Johnson's New Home in Town

In 1956, about the time I had started dating your Dad in high school, his dad was semi-retiring from farming. Your Dad's sister and family were moving into the big old farm house and Mother and Dad, (one day to be your grandparents) were building a new house in " town". Ogden was a budding metropolis of 1500 people and to this day, it still remains a small farming town with about the same number of people. The home they were building was ultra-modern for that day and age. Micro-wave ovens were a luxury then, but, Mother had one of the first ones to be seen in that area of the country. An inter-com system was installed throughout the house -- another luxury for that day and age !! Originally, the room over the garage was an open patio or "sun porch" and the exterior was painted gray with white trim. The house now has a new family living in it. I hope they will have as many fond memories of life within the walls of this "home" as I do.

Paul and Ruth

August 18, 1934, your paternal grandparents wedding day !! Before they knew it, they were celebrating their 50th anniversary. We were in New Hampshire that year with your Dad's job. For their gift from their 3 children, airline tickets were purchased for them to come visit us. They waited until October for the fall foliage season to make the trip. We had a wonderful time driving around through the country side and into Vermont and Maine during their stay. Autumn in the northeast area of the U.S.A. is definitely a sight to behold !! A sight-seeing day trip to Boston was also on the agenda, plus, of course, a Maine lobster cook out !! It was the best of times !!!

Burt and Lottie

Burt Johnson, your paternal great grandfather, married Lottie McCullom on August 21, 1912. Look at Burt's hair and eyes -- is that not your Dad ?? Especially the hair !! According to your Dad, G'pa Burt's hair was totally gray by the time he was 30 years of age. I never had the privilege of meeting him as he died before I knew your Dad. Burt and Lottie moved off the farm and into a house in town after their only son, your G'pa Paul, married. As a young boy and teenager, your Dad loved to spend the weekends in town at his G'ma and G'pa's house. And, it was always a place to go after school when there was an evening activity to attend.

Johnson Homestead

I had not seen this photo of the old house on the Johnson Century Farm until you sent it to me and asked what and where it was taken. I immediately recognized the house to be the one that your Dad grew up in, although, by the time I became part of the family, it had been "remodeled" !! Porches were enclosed and siding had been installed. The vintage beauty had been lost. When I questioned your Aunt Joan about the house, she thought it had already been built when the farm was purchased in 1893. The photo from the letter on 10/21/o8 pictures a piece of one of the porch posts from this house, repurposed into a decorative flower stand. Whatever inspired your Great-G'ma Lottie to keep the posts when the remodeling was done is a mystery. I do know that she was a creative and talented woman, always looking to do something new and unusual. She and my Mom became great friends with their gardening and sewing being a common ground.

Your Dad - A Middle Child, Too

This Johnson family portrait is circa 1949. Your Dad, like me, was a middle child. He most certainly added "spice and flavor" to his family, being "the filling" for the sandwich !! The men in this family were quick-witted, always ready with a "smart" come-back in any conversation or situation. Joan has always told me that I was the sister she never had. When your Dad and I returned from our short honeymoon trip, your G'pa Paul met me at the door with a risque joke I have never forgotten. Your G'ma Ruth once paid me the highest of compliments when she told me that she could not have hand-picked a better wife for her son. I could not have purposely chosen a better family to be a part of !! Joan, Douglas and Timothy -- don't they all have the look of the cat that just ate the canary ?? Impish and ready to get into some kind of mischief ??

May 20, 1958

Being tagged by my blog friend at http://junesartyretreat/, shortened my decision making time on what to post today. The rule was to go to your photo albums on your pc, open the 6th album, choose the 6th picture and explain, then tag five others. I had already posted that particular photo, so chose the next one. I have always regretted not having formal portraits of our wedding day. My sister's husband fancied himself a photographer and took many shots at the ceremony and at the reception. At the end of the evening, he found that he had forgotten to take the cover off the lens of his camera. Fortunately, there were other people taking shots with their Kodaks and all of the best moments were captured. We were so young and so happy-- ( tagging five is a difficult task for me -- check the blogs I follow for some wonderfully creative artists)

Ace in the Hole

A set of four demitasse cups and luncheon plates were a gift to my mother-in-law, Ruth, from her brother Paul for her birthday, I believe sometime in the late 70's. They are Staffordshire bone china from England and have their rightful place in my china cabinet. Mother was an avid bridge player and belonged to a local bridge club. They met monthly at members homes to have an afternoon of card playing. Coffee, tea and a special little dessert or salad was always served by the hostess, so, this little set was put to good use. After moving to the Eastern Star Masonic home in Boone, she found other gals there to have a game with most every day. She always thought I would enjoy the game and should learn to play, but, to this day it is still on the "to do" list.