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Tuesday, May 31, 2011

GOD WON'T TEMP YOU

Never confuse a trial with a temptation
There's a difference between trials and temptations. A trail is something that happens to us through outer circumstances or our own actions. God allows trials in our lives because they have the potential to make us "partners with Christ in his suffering "(1 pet. 4:13 ) . On the other hand, temptation can entice us to do the wrong thing.
God is never tempted to do wrong. Even when Satan tempted Jesus, there was never a possibility that Jesus would make a mistake. He stood on the Word of God and kept Satan and his test at bay.
God doesn't tempt us to do wrong, either. More than likely,our temptations come from "the lure of our won evil desires"(James 1:14). God wants us to endure our temptations through the power of the Holy Spirit, and He will bless us for it (James 1:12).
God is never tempted to do wrong,
and he never tempts anyone else either.
JAMES 1:13

Fried Rabbit

1 rabbit
salt & pepper
four
1 T. Butter
1 lard
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cut the rabbit into pieces and rinse quickly in cold water (do not soak). Season the meat, roll in flour  to cover. Have the fats very hot in the skillet, put in rabbit. Cover and let the rabbit get very done before browning the other side. A rabbit fried in this way will smell almost as nice as it tastes..
Enjoy!

Monday, May 30, 2011

Memorial Day

Memorial Day means different things to different people. Some proudly hang up the flag and pay respect to those who defended our country in a time of war. Others see it as a three-day weekend, the start of barbecue season or a chance to get out of town for a bit.
What about you? Do you have a Memorial Day tradition you do with family or friends? How do you spend your weekend? Will you pause and pay homage our armed forces heroes on Monday?

Friday, May 27, 2011

HELP

CAN ANYBODY OUT THERE HELP ME???? I NEED TO LEAVE COMMENTS BUT CAN'T STAY SIGNED IN???? AND CAN'T POST I DON'T KNOW WHY????? IT ALWAYS WORK AND NOW IT DOESN'T LOOKING FOR SOME HELP THANK YOU..
GOD BLESS

Cabbage Casserole

1 lb ground meat
1 onion
salt&Pepper
1 can tomato soup
1/2 can water
1 small cabbage, cut up
1 cup of rice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brown meat and onion. Drain . Put into casserole and salt, pepper,tomato soup,water, cabbage and rice. Stir till well mixed. Bake 2 hours at 350 degrees.

HOLINESS

You can't get holy in a hurry.
Actually,you can get holy in a hurry. It happens immediately when you turn your life over to God. At that moment, because Christ paid the penalty for your sins,God sees you as righteous. Your sins (past and future) are gone.
But when  we say "You can't get holy in a hurry," we're talking about practical holiness- the actions and attitudes in your life. Even when you allow God to direct your life, you will still be tempted to act according to your old nature. All of your old undesirable habits and thoughts won't immediately vanish.
While positional holiness happens immediately, practical holiness happens gradually as you align your thinking with God's precepts. As your thoughts change , your conduct will change. You'll find increasing evidences of holiness in your as you remain diligent in your devotion to God.
But now you must be holy in ever thing you do.
Just as God who chose you to be his children is holy.
1 PETER 1:15

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Comments

PLEASE NOTE I'M HAVING A PROBLEM TO LEAVE A COMMENT TO YOU ALL THAT HAVE POSTED.. I'M NOT STAYING SIGNED IN FOR SOME REASON WORKING ON IT NOW...
GOD BLESS

HAM LOAF



1 lb. ham
1 lb. pork
1/2 green pepper
1 small onion
1 egg
cracker crumbs
salt & Pepper
1 can tomato soup
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grind ham and pork together. Chop green pepper and onion. Add to meats. Add egg, crumbs and salt and pepper. Mix well and place in a loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour. Serve on a platter and pour over a can of tomato soup heated up with a little water.

PURPOSE

A sense of purpose gives energy to your mind and enthusiasm to your heart.
Do you ever wonder about your purpose in life? what will bring you meaning and fulfillment? That is a fairly deep philosophical question, but the answer isn't too complicated.
As a person who loves God, you know that fulfillment doesn't come from temporal endeavors. True purpose can be found only in matters that have eternal significance. You also know that a meaningful life is not self-centred, but it is outwardly directed to other people.
If you combine these two concepts, you must come to the conclusion that a part of God's purpose for your life is to tell people about Him. Only God, through Christ, can change a life for eternity, and He has called you to deliver that message. He has called you for that purpose.
"Go into all the world
and preach the Good News
to everyone, everywhere."
MARK 16:15

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Our Vegetable List for the garden

Hello family and friends.. Been very busy today and I will be only posting this today.. Its a list of what we have put in our garden and a few things still need to be put in...
2 pounds of onions
1 pound of red kidney beans
1 oz Boston pickle rs
1 oz of small pie pumpkins
1 oz of jack o la ten pumpkin
1/4 pound of shell beans
1/2 pound yellow was beans
1/2 pound of provider green beans and just bought another 2 pounds today.
4 oz beets for greens
1/2 pound sugar snap peas
1 0z buttercup squash
1 oz zucchini squash
1 oz black seeded Simpson lettuce
one pkg bunching onions
one pkg parsley Italian
1 package sweet basil
3 pkg of pumpkin
1 pkg of butternut squash
1/4 oz dill
1/4  oz Swiss chard lucullus
2 oz spinach
1 0z blooms dale spinach
1 oz Swiss chard rhubarb
2 pkg of gourds
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We put in 18 ace pepper plants
6 lemon boy tomatoes
6 Roma tomatoes
12 big boy whooper tomatoes
1 sweet one hundred tomatoes
18 early girl tomatoes
There is a few more can't think right now
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
flower seeds
3 mix dinner plate dahlias
4 pk gs Marigold french double mix
2 pkg calendula pacific beauty
1 pkg Marigold petite orange
1 pkg marigold petite yellow
4 pk gs sunflower mam mouth Russian
2 pkg bachelor button mix
2 pkg bachelor button blue boy
9 pkg zinnia giants of California
2 pkgs cleome rose queen
2 pkg morning glory heavenly blue
1 pkg pearly gates white morning glory
1 pkg morning glory flying saucers
2 pkg African Daisy mix
2 pkg oriental poppy mix
3 pkg cosmos single sensation mix
4 pkg aster crego mixed
1 pkg sunflower autumn beauty mix
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So that is pretty much and then I have my several hanging baskets.. Well I have to go pull weeds now.... Its been a very busy day... Be back tomorrow...
God Bless


Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Today



What a day.... I was outside weeding flower beds and the black flies were so bad.. I did manage to pull two five gallon buckets of weeds.. Today it started with sun then got cloudy.. I just heard on the news that its been (277) days since the weather has been in the 70's and today we got in the 70's been 11 days since there has been any real sun...
Started my day with devotion and a tuna sandwich from there went and cleaned the kitchen and started a batch of strawberry and rhubarb  jam it came out good... Then cleaned things again..

From there  did laundry and hung it on the line went just a bit to bring it in but it was humid and didn't dry very well. Dry mopped the floors and now have chicken on for supper...

Tomorrow will finish up laundry and get some summer dresses out. Then I need to start sewing for the farm stand.. I'm be selling produce jam and jelly plus aprons and and misc things.. So I plan to be very busy..

I just realized I was going to post on what Ray has put in the garden.. I did help a little since I was in cast..

Well I need to go finish supper hope all my family and friends have a great night...

God Bless

Uncle Johns Navy Hash


Cold baked potatoes
cold pot roast or whatever you have
Assorted leftovers vegetables:carrots, cabbage,celery
1 onion,chopped
2 eggs, beaten
soda crackers , crushed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a real good way to use up leftovers, and it tastes great, too. Cut potatoes,meat and vegetables into pieces. Fry meat and onion together until onion is cooked. Add potatoes and and vegetables and fry till hot. Stir in beaten eggs to bind all together. Add crushed crushed crackers. You might want to serve this with some ketchup, but it's good and filling all by itself..

FORGIVENESS IS BIG

Forgiveness opens the door to our relationship with God.
Forgiveness is very big in God's eyes. Very big. Without His forgiveness of our sins, get near us. We should thank God every day for His forgiveness, which opens the door to our relationship with Him.
A lot of us think forgiveness is a one-way street. We become aware of God's forgiveness accept God's forgiveness, accept God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and then go about our lives. But God asks more of us. He wants us to forgive others, especially those who have hurt us deeply.
Lets' be honest. That's a very tough assignment. We find it very difficult to forgive those who have hurt of offended us. And yet that's exactly why God asks us to do it. Forgiveness is very big in God's eyes, and it needs to be very big in our eyes as well.
You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you.
COLOSSIANS 3:13

Monday, May 23, 2011

Garden Soup



6 T. Fat
4 stalks celery
2 lg. onions
3 cloves garlic minced fine
1 green pepper
2 lbs. ground beef
6 tomatoes
2 c. fresh cooked kidney beans
1 t.salt
1 T. honey
1 T. vinegar
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peel and chop vegetables. Melt fat in a large pot and fry celery,onion,garlic and pepper until browned. Add tomatoes, beans, salt,  honey and vinegar. Simmer gently for an hour or two, stirring often to prevent scorching. If soup becomes to thick, add 1-2 cups hot water. Serve with soda crackers or fresh, hot rolls.

Let God Have A Turn To Talk



Prayer involves listening to God as well as speaking to Him.
What is your definition of prayer?"The most common response to that question is "Talking with God."Unfortunately, that answer is wrong. The correct answer is "Talking with God."
Perhaps you think we are being too nit-picky. But there is a huge difference between talking to God  and talking with God.
 Think about it. Conversation, by its definition, requires two -way communication. Otherwise, it's just one person giving a speech rather than two people conversing.
Maybe you're thinking that prayers have to be one-way only (you to God) because God never replies. Well, He does. But you have to give Him away until you have given God a chance to respond. The Holy Spirit wants to say something to you, but He won't interrupt when you are talking, so you'll have to stop talking and listen.
"The Maker of the heavens and earth-the Lord is his name-says this:
Ask me and I will tell you some remarkable secrets about what is going to happen here."
JEREMIAH 33:2-3

Friday, May 20, 2011

God is Good..

Please view this and know how great God works... have tissues ready you will need them... God Bless

http://www.godvine.com/Meet-Kelsey-the-Beautiful-Miracle-Baby-417.html

Been a little crazy...

The last few days have been a little crazy busy trying to get things done and doing errands.. So much to do after being down for so long..

The weather still hasn't been good rain and drizzle again today its been a week already.. The seeds Ray planted are coming up in garden but we still have so much more to plant..

Well I have to go and do a few things.. So I'll be back on Monday or before if I have time.. I like to stay off the computer on weekends.. Busy with the grand kids and so on..

Oh I almost forgot not sure if I will keep posting on the old recipes cause not getting much feed back maybe its boring???

May God Bless... Have a great weekend..

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Charming Vintage Kitchen Prayers Recipes Stories

Charming Vintage Kitchen Prayers, Recipes & Stories

These sweet kitchen prayers, simple stories and old-timer words of wisdom were frequently found in old community cookbooks and vintage homemaking magazines. They were clipped and pasted into recipe scrapbooks, done in cross stitch to be framed and hung on kitchen walls or given as bridal shower gifts. Some bring a chuckle while others a soft smile and sadly, we don’t see much of them anymore in today’s publications.
I’ve moved all of these charmers here on one page and I’ll add new ones as I come across them. Enjoy!

My Kitchen Prayer

Vintage Kitchen
Vintage Kitchen
Here’s a sweet kitchen prayer I’ve come across a few times in some old cookbooks, this would be nice in a cross stitch or needlework design.

God bless my little kitchen,
I love its every nook,
And bless me as I do my work,
Wash pots and pans and cook.
And may the meals that I prepare
Be seasoned from above
With Thy great blessings and Thy grace,
But most of all Thy love.
As we partake of earthly food,
The table before us spread,
We’ll not forget to thank Thee, Lord,
Who gives us daily bread.
So bless my little kitchen, God,
And those who enter in,
May they find naught but Joy and Peace,
And Happiness therein.
Author: M. Peterson (1944)

My Kitchen


Humorous Kitchen Poem
Humorous Kitchen Poem
Please stay away from my kitchen,
From my dishwashing, cooking and such.
You were kind to have offered to help me,
And I do want to thank you so much.
I hope you won’t think me ungracious
When I ask that you leave me alone,
For my kitchen is not very spacious
And my system is strictly my own.
So please stay out of my kitchen,
It may well prevent a few wars,
And when I am invited to your house,
I promise to stay out of yours.
Author Unknown

How To Bake A Cake: Charming Recipe Story

You’ll find this popular recipe story in a variety of old cookbooks. That Johnny, he’s a busy boy!
Humorous Story Often Found In Vintage Cookbooks
Humorous Story Often Found In Vintage Cookbooks
  • Heat oven. Grease pan. Crack nuts. Get your bowl, spoons and ingredients. Remove 18 blocks and 7 toy automobiles from kitchen table. Measure 2 cups flour onto piece of waxed paper. Get sifter out of cabinet. Remove Johnny’s hand from flour. Wash flour off him.
  • Measure out 1 cup more flour to replace what is now on floor. Put 2 1/2 tsp. baking powder and 1/2 tsp. of salt in the sifter. Get dustpan and brush up pieces of bowl which Johnny has accidentally knocked off table.
  • Get another bowl. Measure and sift ingredients. With spoon work 1/4 cup of shortening against side of bowl. Answer doorbell. Return to kitchen. Remove Johnny’s hands from bowl. Wash shortening off him. Add one cup granulated sugar gradually. Answer telephone. Return to kitchen. Remove Johnny’s hands from bowl. Wash shortening and sugar off him.
  • Get out an egg. Answer doorbell. Return to kitchen. Mop up floor. Change Johnny’s shoes which are all eggy. Get another egg. Beat. Remove toy automobile from bowl. Add flour mixture alternately with egg, 3/4 cup milk and one tsp. vanilla. Answer knock at back door. Remove Johnny’s hands from bowl. Wash shortening, sugar, flour, milk and vanilla off him. Beat…mixture that is…Take up greased pan, find it has 1/4 inch layer of salt in bottom. Look for Johnny, who has disappeared.
  • Get another pan and grease it. Answer telephone. Return to kitchen and find, of all people, Johnny. Remove his hands from bowl. Wash shortening etc., etc., off him. Take up greased pan; find it has 1/4 inch of nutshells in it. Head for Johnny, who flees, knocking bowl off table.
  • Wash kitchen floor. Wash kitchen table. Wash kitchen walls. Wash dishes. Call up your baker and order a cake. Lie down…
Author Unknown
*This version was found in a cookbook from 1967

Old Wash Day Recipe

Old Washtub To Do Laundry
Old Washtub To Do Laundry
Variations of this ‘recipe’ handed down from a grandmother to her granddaughter on her wedding day has circulated around the net for years. Snopes declares this was making rounds well before the internet as “xeroxlore”.

Whether it truly written by a grandmother to her granddaughter we’ll probably never know. But it is quite charming :) .
  1. Build fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water.
  2. Set tubs so smoke wont blow in eyes if wind is pert.
  3. Shave one hole cake of lie soap in boilin water.
  4. Sort things, make 3 piles. 1 pile white, 1 pile colored, 1 pile work britches and rags.
  5. To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down with boilin water.
  6. Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and then boil. Rub colored, don’t boil, just rinse and starch.
  7. Take things out of kettle with broomstick handle, then rinse, and starch.
  8. Hang old rags on fence.
  9. Spread tea towels on grass.
  10. Pore rinse water in flower bed.
  11. Scrub porch with hot soapy water.
  12. Turn tubs upside down.
  13. Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs. Brew cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.
Paste this over your washer and dryer. Next time when you think things are bleak, read it again, kiss that washing machine and dryer, and give thanks.
First thing each morning you should run and hug your washer and dryer, also your toilet — those two-holers used to get Mighty Cold!
*Typos from original

Words of Wisdom & Advice For Happiness

Recipe For Preserving Children

Recipe For A Happy Child
Recipe For A Happy Child
1 grass grown field, one half dozen children (or more), several dogs (and puppies if in season), 1 brook, pebbles.
Method: Into field pour children and dogs allowing to mix well. Pour brook over pebbles till slightly frothy. When children are nicely brown, cool in warm tub, when dry, serve with milk, fresh baked bread and cookies.
Author Unknown, found in old cookbook
Photo By: Fernando Weberich
Recipe For A Happy Home
Recipe For A Happy Home
Recipe For A Happy Home
To one half cup of friendship -
Add a cup of thoughtfulness,
Cream together with a
Pinch of powdered tenderness (very lightly beaten)
In a bowl of loyalty
With a cup of faith, one of hope and one of charity.
Be sure to add a spoonful each of gaiety that sings
And also the ability to laugh at little things
Moisten with the sudden tear of heartfelt sympathy
Bake in a good natured pan and serve repeatedly.
Author Unknown

Recipe For A Happy Day


Recipe For A Happy Day
Recipe For A Happy Day
1 cup friendly words
2 cups (heaping) understanding
4 tsp (heaping) time and patience
Pinch of warm personality
Dash of humor

Method for Mixing:
  • Measure words carefully.
  • Add heaping cups of understanding.
  • Use generous amounts of time and patience.
  • Keep temperatures low. Do not boil.
  • Add dash of humor and a pinch of warm personality.
  • Season to taste with a spice of life.
  • Serve in individual molds.
Author Unknown
Here’s another variation:
Happiness Recipe
2 heaping cups patience
1 heartful love
2 handfuls generosity
Dash of laughter
1 headful understanding
Sprinkle generously with kindness. Apply plenty of faith and mix well. Spread over a period of a lifetime and serve to those you meet.

Recipe for Living

Picture of Young Girl - Tipnut.comInto each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest (leaving this out is like leaving oil out of the salad — don’t do it), prayer, mediation and one well selected resolution.
Put in about a teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a sprinkling of play and a heaping cupful of good humor.
Pour love into the whole mix with a vim. Cook thoroughly in fervent heat, garnish with a few smiles and a sprig of joy, then serve with quietness, unselfishness and cheerfulness.
Author unknown
Photo Credit: David Nelson

Perfect Day Recipe

Here’s my favorite recipe. Try it. Once you have tried it you will use it over and over again with complete success.
Take a dash of cold water
Add a little leaven of pray
A little bit of sunshine gold dissolved in the morning air.
Add to your meal some merriment
A thought of kith and kin
And then a prime ingredient
Plenty of work thrown in
But spice it all with essence of love
And a little whip of play
Let a wise old book and a glance above
Complete a well spent day.
Anonymous

A Recipe For Happiness (For Teenagers)

Patience, justice, mercy, truth
All the pleasures found in youth
Joy and hope and courage strong
Mixed with love your whole life long,
Stir till smooth; in large mold cast.
From this mixture comes at last,
Charming in its power to bless,
Lovely, star-crowned happiness.

Fishing Weather Poem

Picture of Fishing Gear - Tipnut.comWhen the wind is in the East,
‘Tis neither good for man or beast;
When the wind is in the north,
The skillful fisher goes not forth;
When the wind is in the south,
It blows the bait in the fishes’ mouth;
When the wind is in the west,
Then it’s at the very best.
Author Unknown
More Or Less
I found this in an old cookbook:
Go Less – Sleep More
Ride Less – Walk More
Talk Less – Think More
Scold Less – Praise More
Waste Less – Give More
Eat Less – Chew More
Clothe Less – Bathe More
Idle Less – Play More
Worry Less – Laugh More
Preach Less – Practice More

Ten Commandments of Human Relations


Young & Old Holding Hands
Young & Old Holding Hands
Speak To People — there is nothing so nice as a cheerful word of greeting.

Smile At People — it takes 72 muscles to frown, only 14 to smile.
Call People — the sweetest music to anyone’s ears is the sound of his own name.
Be Friendly and helpful, if you would have friends, be a friend.
Be Cordial — speak and act as if everything you do is a genuine pleasure.
Be Genuinely interested in people — you can like almost everybody if you try.
Be Generous with praise — cautious with criticism.
Be Considerate with the feelings of others — there are usually three sides to a controversy: yours, the other fellow’s, and the right side.
Be Alert to give service — what counts most in life is what we do for others.
Add To This a good sense of humour, a big dose of patience and a dash of humility, and you will be rewarded many-fold.
Author Unknown
http://tipnut.com/my-kitchen-prayer/

Up Date

Thank you for those that sent a prayer up for me to the heavenly Father.. Saw the Dr. and my air cast is off yahoo.. Thank you Jesus. I still have some tissue healing and will be careful.. I can where any
 type of shoe and now I'm learning how to walk all over again and building up strength in my leg.
God Bless

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Prayer Request



Please keep me in prayer today as I have a big Dr. appointment and I'm in hopes the air cast will be coming off.. So I've been praying for things to go well.. So dear lord please lift me up in prayer...
Well have to finish getting dressed and off to a long ride to Dr. its a 1 3/4 hour drive one way.
Have a great day.. God Bless

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Welcome to my home state Maine

Maine

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The State of Maine

Portland Head Lighthouse
Portland Head Lighthouse, Cape Elizabeth
Photograph: Wayne Fullington

Welcome to the great state of Maine! From the pristine wilderness of the conifer and hardwood forests that cover 895 of the state, to the magnificent rocky coastline of the north, to the long sandy beaches of the south, Maine is truly a scenic wonder. Picturesque lighthouses and quaint fishing villages add to the natural splendor of the coastline. Majestic homes of 19th century sea captains, many with their original widow's walks, grace the seaside towns.
Humorist Will Rogers remarked, "Did you ever see a place that looked like it was built to enjoy? Well this whole state of Maine looks that way."
Click for the latest Augusta weather forecast.
Maine isn't just about beautiful scenery and wilderness. Maine's history and economy have been linked to vast timber reserves and to the sea; in this case, the Atlantic Ocean. The abundance of timber served the state well as Maine became noted for its shipbuilding in colonial times. The first ship built and launched in western hemisphere was the Virginia, launched in 1607. Shipbuilding continued to flourish in Maine as the manufacture of wooden ships gave way to iron and steel. The first atomic submarine, the Swordfish was built in Maine. On the other end of the scale, Maine produces more canoes than any other state in the union.
Though the wooden shipbuilding industry disappeared long ago, Maine forests continue to provide the raw resources for its most important manufactured products; cardboard boxes, paper bags, wood pulp, and paper.
Maine's blueberry harvest is the largest in the nation, yielding almost all the low bush blueberries grown in the United States. Potatoes are a major product of Maine, growing well in the cool north. And the state is famous for delicious shellfish, too, especially clams and the famous Maine lobster. Maine's yearly lobster catch is larger than any other state.

THE STATE NAME:

It is really not known how the name for this state originated. One theory suggests that the state was named by French colonists after the French province of Mayne. Another mentions that "Main" was a common term to describe a mainland.

THE STATE NICKNAMES:

Near West Peak of Tumbledown Mountain
Near West Peak of Tumbledown Mountion

The Pine Tree State

This common nickname for Maine is given because of the extensive pine forests that have covered the state. The White Pine is considered to be the largest conifer in the northeastern United States and some of the tallest trees in eastern North America grew in Maine. The White Pine has played an important part in the history of Maine and has been afforded appropriate recognition. In the early days of colonization, the tall White Pines of Maine were valued for ship's masts.

The Lumber State

Maine has been a leading producer of lumber products. Because of this and the large number of people involved in the lumber industry, Maine has been called "The Lumber State." Today, almost 89% of the state is forested. Maine is currently the home of many of the largest paper producing mills in the country. Many forms of Maine paper products are used in schools and offices throughout the country.

The Border State

This nickname was given to Maine because its northern border is with Canada.

The Old Dirigo State

This nickname, refers to Maine's state motto, Dirigo, meaning "I direct" or "I guide."

The Switzerland of America

Maine is another state that was designated "The Switzerland of America" because of its mountains and snowfall.

The Polar Star State

Maine has been called "The Polar Star State" because of its position as one of the northernmost states and because of the North Star on its Coat of Arms.

THE STATE CITIZENS:

People who live in or come from Maine are called Mainers. Variants of this are Maine Staters and State of Mainers. You may also hear Mainers referred to as Down Easters (because of the eastern longitudes of the state).
In days gone by, people who lived in the area now defined as Maine may also have been referred to by a number of other nicknames:
  • Foxes - Mainers were sometimes referred to as Foxes because of the abundance of foxes roaming the pine forests in which Mainers often worked.
  • Lumberjacks/Lumbermen - Because of the vast timber resources of Maine, one of the cheif occupations of Mainers was lumbering.
  • Pine Trees - Somewhat funny to think about, but residents of the Pine Tree State were sometimes referred to as pine trees themeselves.

THE STATE QUARTER:

Maine State Quarter
United States Mint Image
The Maine quarter is the third quarter of 2003, and the 23rd in the 50 State Quarters® Program. Maine became the 23rd state to be admitted into the Union, as part of the Missouri Compromise on March 15, 1820. The Maine quarter design incorporates a rendition of the Pemaquid Point Light atop a granite coast and of a schooner at sea.
Pemaquid Point Light is located in New Harbor, and marks the entrance to Muscongus Bay and Johns Bay. Since the beginning of ship activity in the area, a shoal created hazardous navigation conditions, causing many shipwrecks. As maritime trade increased in the area, so did the need for a lighthouse. In 1826, Congress appropriated funds to build a lighthouse at Pemaquid Point. Although the original building was replaced in 1835, and the original 10 lamps in 1856, the light is still a beacon for ships and remains one of Maine's most popular tourist attractions.
The schooner resembles "Victory Chimes, " the last three-masted schooner of the Windjammer Fleet. "Victory Chimes" has become synonymous with Maine windjamming.
For more about the state commemorative quarters, visit this page.
This 50 State Quarter Map is a great way to collect and display all 50 State Quarters.

Sources...

Martucci, Dave, Maine State Symbols. 21 October 2002 <http://www.midcoast.com/~martucci/flags/maine/>
Carpenter, Allan & Provorse, Carl. The World Almanac® of the U.S.A.. Mahwah, N.J.: World Almanac Books (An Imprint of K-III Reference Corporation, A K-III Communications Company), 1996.
Shankle, George Earlie. State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers, and Other Symbols. Irvine, Calif.: Reprint Services Corp, Revised edition, 1971.
Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S. State Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols: A Historical Guide Third Edition, Revised and Expanded. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 3 Sub edition, 2001.

Additional Information

Maine (From Sea to Shining Sea)
Maine
Christine Webster
Maine (From Sea to Shining Sea), by Christine Webster. 80 pages. Publisher: Children's Press(CT) (March 2003) Reading level: Grades 3-5. Presents information about Maine's people, geography, history, landmarks, natural resources, government, state capitol, towns and cities, and more.
Maine (World Almanac Library of the States)
Maine
Deborah H. Deford
Maine (World Almanac Library of the States), by Deborah H. Deford. 48 pages. Gareth Stevens Publishing (February 2003) Reading level: Grades 4-6. Filled with the most up-to-date information, including the latest Census results. Full-color photos bring to life the story of Maine. In addition to an in-depth factual profile of Maine in the form of a state Almanac, this book offers fascinating and lively discussions of the state's history, people, geography, government, economy, culture, and lifestyles. A section on Notable People, a calendar of events, and enough primary source documents, time lines, maps, and other tools to make this unquestionably the best young adult reference material on the USA available anywhere.
Maine: The Pine Tree State from Prehistory to the Present
Maine
Maine: The Pine Tree State from Prehistory to the Present, Edited by Richard W. Judd, Edwin A. Churchill, and Joel W. Eastman. 616 pages. Publisher: Univ of Maine Press; 1st edition (December 1994) Maine: The Pine Tree State surveys the region's rich history from prehistoric times to the early 1990s. Drawing on a team of twenty-six scholars with a professional interest in Maine's past, the book features fresh research and new interpretations of even familiar periods such as the Civil War. The chapter authors are respected authorities in Maine history from the fields of archaeology, anthropology, ethnic studies, and the various sub-disciplines of history: political, cultural, economic, labor, military, maritime. Certain themes recur from chapter to chapter and across historical periods. For example, larger structural changes in the nation - market trends, wars, economic fluctuations, demographic flows - strongly affected the everyday world of Maine people. Other prominent themes are the importance of geography and the environment in shaping Maine's economy and culture. Caught up at times in national events, Maine has also led the nation in important ways. Its fishing industry fed and its textile industry clothed the nation's people. Maine loggers contributed heavily to the technologies used in cutting, hauling, and driving timber. Maine excelled in the production of wooden ships and supplied the expertise to sail them. In the nineteenth century Maine's political leaders were among the most powerful in the nation, and Maine's contribution to social reform attracted national recognition. .
Coastal Maine: A Maritime History
Coastal Maine
Robert F. Duncan
Coastal Maine: A Maritime History, by Roger F. Duncan. 573 pages. Publisher: Countryman Press; 1 edition (June 2002) A fascinating and comprehensive chronicle of four hundred years of maritime history along the Maine coast. Roger Duncan recounts four hundred years of Maine's rich maritime history, from the early seafarers' discovery of its valuable resources and the families that settled the land, to Maine's role in the history of the US in peacetime and in war. He traces the changes in Maine's economy over the past century: the demise of the coastal trade; the burgeoning popularity of pleasure boating after World War II; the hardships that beset the fishing and lumber industries; and the rise of tourism. This anecdotal panorama of people, land, boats, and water will absorb historians, nautical enthusiasts, and New Englanders alike.
The Maine Reader
The Maine Reader
The Maine Reader, Edited by Charles & Samuella Shain. 576 pages. Publisher: David R Godine (August 1, 1997) Here, in one large volume, is a book that captures the full sweep of Maine's culture and history, from the first dazzled vision of the European explorers to the modern prose of Carolyn Chute and John McPhee. Thoughtfully edited, illustrated with photographs of documents, buildings, and personalities, this compendium brings to life a state that has always maintained its own character and independence. All the great figures who were ever born in, have inhabited, or have written about Maine can be found in these pages, including (among many others) Longfellow, Thoreau, Jewett, Millay, Beston, and Gould. In addition, the editors have uncovered small unknown gems: the journal of a foot soldier marching with Benedict Arnold and the bawdy memoirs of a sea captain's wife. Illustrated with over fifty splendid halftones, this collection - the most complete and entertaining selection of Down East writing yet assembled - will be indispensable reading for anyone who has ever succumbed to the charms of the Pine Tree State..
http://www.netstate.com/states/intro/me_intro.htm

BEGIN YOUR DAY WITH GOD

You can start your day without God, but you'll never really get started.
King David was a morning person. He loved to get up early and meet the Lord in prayer and meditation. As a king, David's day was full of appointments, decrees, and official duties. David knew that if he was going to carve out time for God, it had to be in the morning before everyone else grabbed for his time.
You may not be int king of a county, but you are probably the king of the house, king of the hill, or the king of yur office. You have appointments to keep, decrees to declare, and duties to perform. Your calendar is no less busy than a full-time monarch. So you have to ask yourself, If David thought it was a good idea to meet God in the morning, why don't I ? It's not that God isn't available later in the day. He always has time for you. You're the one who gets too busy for god.
Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.
Each morning  I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.
PSALM 5:3

Cream of Oyster Soup

1 pt. oysters
1 qt. milk, scalded
1 T. butter
1 T. flour
salt and pepper
1/2 c. whipped cream
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Drain liquid from oysters and add an equal amount of water to it. Heat liquids slowly, skim well. Meanwhile chop oysters, add to liquid and cook 3 minutes. Cream butter and flour, add to scalded milk to thicken. Add milk mixture and seasonings. Put in the cream at the last minute before serving.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Great Weekend -Pictures-Willy Wonka

Good morning to my family and friends we had a good weekend. Saturday the two grandkids was in the Willy Wonka play Miss Haley that is (17) and Jett that is (11) they both did a great job. We went to the last show that was @ 7PM by the time we got home I was so tired... Miss Haley was playing the part of Veruca Salt-she was one of the spoiled children and very sassy.. And our Jett he played one of the (OOPA LOOPAS) he also did a great job..
Then on Sunday we were hoping to make it to church but I was so sore from sitting so long in the play and the long ride home didn't make it. But we had friends come over and ended up with a wii party Sunday night and I made homemade pizza.. Then I went to bed early...

It has been raining for several days now but thats ok the garden is starting to come up. I was hoping to get the pumpkin seeds-zucchini seeds- and cukes in but didn't.. I shouldn't say I Ray has planted the garden for me cause I can't do it.

We couldn't take pictures at the play good thing cause I don't have a camera right now. So the casting crew posted a bunch on facebook and I could get them there.. So I would like to share some with you..
God Bless..
PS Poor Jett only got his picture taken one time.... Great Job Jett and Haley.. Love Grammie
Our Jett on the left.. as the oopa loopa
Our Miss Haley

Our Miss Haley


Our Miss Haley

Our Miss Haley

REMEMBER YESTERDAY

If you don't remember what God did for you yesterday, you'll have trouble trusting Him for today.
Another reason for beginning your day with God is that you can better remember what God did for you yesterday. At the end of the day you are either too wound up or too tired to do much reflecting. God has worked in your life in a hundred different ways, but you have no focus when the day is done. Nothing but the biggest circumstances stand out.
If you want to reflect on the small stuff God has accomplished in your life, sit quietly in the early morning with your Bible and your coffee and just reflect. Let God speak to you from His Work, and then close your eyes and let Him bring to mind the wonderful things He did for you yesterday. Soon the little remembrances will dawn on you and wash over you like a sweet scent, and you will realize that God is going to do it all over again today.
Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and constantly loves those who love him and obey his commands.
DEUTERONOMY 7:9

Ma's Pea Soup



1 to 1 1/2 lbs. peas
1 ham bone
3 taters halved
3 carrots, sliced
1 onion chopped
salt and pepper to taste.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wash and pick over peas to remove an little stones. Put in a large kettle, cover with water and simmer a few hours. Meanwhile, simmer ham bone covered with water, separately from the peas. when peas are soft, strain them. Put back into kettle add ham picked from bone, ham juice and remaining ingredients. Peas will mush up and turnn into a puree as the soup finished cooking. Simmer gently until taters are done.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Blogger been down

Testing 123 sorry I haven't post cause I could get on.. I'll be back on Monday if all is working.. Sorry family and friends.. God Bless Brenda

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

women on the trail

Good morning I thought this would be interesting to talk about.. I like the 1800 does anybody else?
http://www.historicoregoncity.org/HOC/index.php/end-of-the-oregon-trail-history/oregon-trail-history/105-women-on-the-trail


Women On The Trail
It strikes me as I think of it now -- of course, I was a girl, too young then to know much about it -- but I think now the mothers on the road had to undergo more trial and suffering than anybody else. The men had a great deal of anxiety...but still, the mothers had the families.

- Martha Morrison Minto


Any discussion of the role of women on the Oregon Trail is, at its heart, a discussion of the role of mothers in frontier families. Though there were quite a few single men on the Oregon Trail, there were very few unattached women of marrying age, as what are now thought of as traditional (perhaps quaintly so) gender roles were very much mainstream in the United States of the mid-1800s: men were the breadwinners, while women were encouraged to marry a good provider and keep the house in order. On the frontier, the division between the sexes was perhaps best symbolized by the men working the fields and the women tending the dooryard garden. The men were responsible for deciding what to plant in the fields that generated the family's income, while the women controlled the garden that the family depended on for greens, vegetables, and often medicinal plants needed to prepare folk remedies. Women also included ornamental flowers in their dooryard gardens -- believe it or not, in the mid-1800s dandelions were welcome additions to most lawns and gardens, as they reliably provided some of the first edible greens and colorful flowers every spring.

Women who wished to break out of their traditional roles faced cultural and legal frameworks which made it difficult for them to function independently: men voted on behalf of their families, controlled business relationships, and typically held sole title to the family farm (the Donation Land Act of 1850, which governed land claims in Oregon, was unusual in that it granted half the family claim to the husband and put the other half in the wife's name). Many women were never taught how to hitch up a team, saddle a horse, or drive a wagon -- and actually doing any such thing would have been considered unladylike in most social circles -- which meant that they couldn’t readily attend church or get together for a social occasion without help. Thus, once the man of a family decided to pull up stakes and head for Oregon, the wife had little choice in the matter.
I am going with him, as there is no other alternative.

- Margaret Hereford Wilson


Some women had only a few weeks' notice that the family was moving to Oregon, while others had enough time to prepare as best they could. Once the husband's mind was made up, however, women were at best able to delay the journey to Oregon.
She begged Father to give up the notion but he could not. ... Mother finally reluctantly consented to go. ... Lovers, sweethearts, and associates were all left behind. ... The saddest parting of all was when my mother took leave of her aged and sorrowing mother, knowing full well that they would never meet again on earth.

- Martha G. Masterson


Not all women were against the idea of their families undertaking the journey to Oregon -- in fact, some shared their husbands' enthusiasm.
I was possessed with a spirit of adventure and a desire to see what was new and strange.

- Miriam Thompson Tuller


However, most women were, if not resistant, then certainly reluctant to leave behind the network of kinfolk and friends they had at home. In an era when railroads were still a new and almost blindingly fast means of transportation, frontier families typically remained rooted in place for years at a stretch. This was time enough to form lasting friendships and for the children in a neighborhood to grow up and intermarry, tying their families together in extended webs of kinship.
But if there is ever a time in a woman's life when she will endure hardships and make sunshine out of shadows it is when she first leaves the home nest to follow the man of her choice. ... I determined not to be a stumbling block at the threshold of our new life.

- Carrie Adell Strahorn


Sometimes extended families and groups of friends from the same county or town decided to emigrate to Oregon together, but most women on the Trail formed their own, temporary social circles out of necessity.
Mrs. P. is an exceedingly quiet appearing lady, and has an infant only four weeks old. I am determined to like her. ... We are much acquainted in five minutes as though we had known each other all our lives. The formalities of the drawing room are here out of place -- it is "How do you do?" with a hearty shake of the hand, sans ceremonie.

- Mrs. Benjamin Ferris


The traditional interpretation of the differing attitudes emigrants held about the journey holds that the men looked forward to their destination, the children thought life on the Oregon Trail was a grand adventure, and the women looked backwards, missing the security of the homes they had left behind. Though most modern historians prefer to avoid speaking in such generalizations, there is good evidence to support the broad truth of that one.
Well, well, this is not so romantic; thoughts will stray back (in spite of all our attempts to the contrary) to the comfortable homes we left and the question -- is this a good move? -- but echo answers not a word.

- Lucy Ide
I would make a brave effort to be cheerful and patient until the camp work was done. Then starting out ahead of the team and my men folks, when I thought I had gone beyond hearing distance, I would throw myself down on the unfriendly desert and give way like a child to sobs and tears, wishing myself back home with my friends and chiding myself for consenting to take this wild goose chase.

- Lavina Porter


Whether this reflects some fundamental biological or cultural difference between men, women, and children is another conversation entirely, but it was true that the women, much moreso than their husbands and children, remained strongly connected to the routines of life on the farm. Women were in charge of the domestic routines in camp just as they were back home, and they delegated what work they could to the elder children just as they did at home. While the Oregon Trail was an escape from chores such as making soap or tending the garden, chores such as cooking, cleaning, mending clothes, minding the little ones, and other "women's work" transfered readily to life on the Trail. More often than not, women had to perform these chores after walking all day long through the dust and heat, and to make matters worse, there were any number of mundane challenges that nobody saw coming but which had to be faced every day.
All our work here requires stooping. Not having tables, chairs, or anything it is very hard on the back.

- Lodisa Frizzel
...one does like a change and about the only change we have from bread and bacon, is bacon and bread.

- Helen Carpenter
Had a rather disagreeable time getting supper. Our [buffalo] chips burn rather poor as they are so wet.

- Cecelia Adams

I have cooked so much out in the sun and smoke that I hardly know who I am and when I look into the little looking glass I ask, "Can this be me?"

- Miriam Davis


Keeping everyone fed while traveling the Oregon Trail was no small challenge in an age when the first step in preparing fried chicken might very well have been to wring the chicken's neck. Women coped by sharing time-saving tricks such as using the embers of the campfire to slow-cook a kettle of beans for breakfast the next day or filling the butter churn before hanging it off the back of the wagon, as a rough road would bounce the wagon around enough to churn a small lump of butter for the evening meal. In the face of the limited kitchen facilities and ingredients available on the emigrant road, many women took a certain pride in springing culinary surprises such as preparing a birthday cake or a batch of cookies. Some were so pleased with themselves that they almost bragged to their diaries of small triumphs in the face of adversity.
...wet up some light dough and rolled it out with a bottle and spread the strawberries over it and then rolled it up in a cloth and boiled it, and then with the juice of the strawberries and a little sugar and the last bit of nutmeg I had made quite a cup full of sauce to eat upon the dumplings... the dumplings were light as a cork and made quite a dessert.

- Mary Powers


All this, however, is not to say that women were unable to step out of their traditional roles when circumstances demanded it of them. Women on the Oregon Trail drove wagons, herded livestock, yoked oxen, and sometimes even took a turn at guard duty.
...when danger threatened and my services needed, I knew that if I couldn't shoot straight I could at least sound the alarm. ... I put on my husband's hat and overcoat, then grasping our old flintlock between my shaking hands I went forth into the darkness.

- Margaret Hecox


These times were generally not personal triumphs but concessions to necessity -- Margaret Hecox was forced to take a turn on sentry duty when her husband and many of the other men in her wagon train fell ill. When there was no emergency demanding their energies, women had quite enough to keep them busy within their usual, domestic spheres of responsibility.
In respect to women's work, the days are all the same, except when we stop... then there is washing to be done and light bread to make and all kinds of odd jobs. Some women have very little help about the camp, being obliged to get the wood and water... make camp fires, unpack at night and pack up in the morning -- and if they are Missourians they have milking to do if they are fortunate enough to have cows. I am lucky in having a Yankee husband and so am well waited on.

- Helen M. Carpenter


Indeed, not only did they not normally take on traditionally male roles, but women were typically the most active guardians of the cultural norms that defined "proper" women of the day.
While traveling, mother was particular about Louvina and me wearing sunbonnets and long mitts in order to protect our complexions, hair, and hands. Much of the time I should like to have gone without that long bonnet poking out over my face, but mother pointed out to me some girls who did not wear bonnets and as I did not want to look as they did, I stuck to my bonnet finally growing used to it.

- Adrietta Hixon
When we started from Iowa I wore a dark woolen dress which served me almost constantly during the whole trip. Never without an apron and a three-cornered kerchief, similar to those worn in those days, I presented a comfortable, neat appearance.

- Catherine Haun


For their part, men were reluctant to do anything that might be considered "women's work," though where, exactly, the line was drawn varied from one marriage to another.
When the first Saturday came round, I prepared to do some of my family laundry work. My husband... carried water... filled the washboiler and placed it over the open fire for me. Mrs. Norton was a deeply interested spectator... and remarked rather sadly, "The Yankee men are so good to their wives, they help 'em so much."

After that, I frequently noticed Mr. Norton's way of 'helping' his wife. He would stroll in leisurely, after his work of his lounging was over, look around critically, peer into the water bucket, and would then call out loudly, in a tone that brooked no delay, "Mary Jane, I want some water! This bucket's empty!" And poor Mary Jane, weary and uncomplaining, would stop her dinner getting or put down her fretful baby and run... to the spring to 'fetch' water for her husband. Yet her husband was not unkind to her. It was just his way.

- Esther M. Lockhart


In this context, "unkind" is almost certainly a veiled reference to spousal abuse. Then, as now, some wives were subjected to physical and psychological abuse, but in the Nineteenth Century, beating one's wife (or husband, in some cases) was something which was not spoken of in public -- except, perhaps, in a moment of religious fervor. Such behavior was considered a private family matter and not often commented upon by emigrants in their diaries and journals.
While I'm writing I have an exciting experience. George is out on guard and in the next wagon behind ours a man and woman are quarreling. She wants to turn back and he wont go so she says she will go and leave him with the children and he will have a good time with that crying baby, then he used some very bad words and said he would put it out of the way. Just then I heard a muffled cry and a heavy thud as tho something was thrown against the wagon box and she said "Oh you've killed it" and he swore some more and told her to keep her mouth shut or he would give her more of the same. Just then the word came, change guards. George came in and Mr. Kitridge went out so he and his wife were parted for the night. The baby was not killed. I write this to show how easy we can be deceived.

- Keturah Belknap


Under the stresses of the months-long journey to Oregon, domestic violence sometimes took on bizarre dimensions.
This morning one company moved on except one family. The woman got mad and would not budge, nor let the children go. He had his cattle hitched on for three hours and coaxing her to go, but she would not stir. I told my husband the circumstance, and Adam Polk and Mr. Kimball went and took each one a young one and crammed them in the wagon and her husband drive off and left her sitting. She got up, took the back track and traveled out of sight. Cut across, overtook her husband. Meantime he sent his boy back to camp after a horse that he had left and when she came up to her husband, says, "Did you meet John?"

"Yes," was the reply, "and I picked up a stone and knocked out his brains."

Her husband went back to ascertain the truth, and while he was gone, she set one of his wagon on fire, which was loaded with store goods. The cover burnt off, and some valuable articles. He saw the flames and came running and put it out, and then mustered spunk enough to give her a good flogging.

- Elizabeth Dixon Smith Geer


That incident aside, women generally bore up to the difficulties of the journey as well as, or perhaps even a bit better than, the menfolk.
One day I walked fourteen miles and was not very fatigued. The men seemed more tired and hungry than were the women.

- Catherine Haun


Married women in the Nineteenth Century were expected to, and indeed many routinely did, put the welfare of their families above their own well being, tending to the sick and injured even when they were, themselves, unwell. This perhaps fortified them to cope with the trials and tribulations of the journey to Oregon -- not that they had any better idea of how to deal with unfamiliar situations than the men did, but women were accustomed to being a family's last line of defense against misfortune. However, some women, already enfeebled by illness, malnutrition, or exhaustion, were overwhelmed and ultimately worked themselves to death.
Mother soon discovered that she was not strong enough for the duties that now devolved upon her. She decided to get along as she could with the Doctor's help, and keep one of the boys with the wagon until she got to Fort Hall. She would there exchange her stock for horses, and pack into the station and winter there. But already had she begun to sink under her sorrow and the accumulation of cares... Consumed with fever and afflicted with the sore mouth that was the forerunner of the fatal camp fever, she refused to give up, but fought bravely against the disease and weakness for the sake of her children.

- Catherine Sager


Knowing they would have to find the strength to go on if all else failed, women were more highly aware of and concerned about the risks their families were running by emigrating to Oregon than were the men and children. Both men and women sometimes counted graves along the Trail, either out of boredom or morbid curiosity, but for the most part, only women admitted to reflecting on what they saw.
On the afternoon we passed a lonely nameless grave on the prairie. It had a headboard. It called up a sad train of thoughts. To my mind it seems so sad to think of being buried and left alone in so wild a country with no one to plant a flower or shed a tear over one's grave.

- Jane Gould


Some women were plagued by nightmares and daydreams about dangers, real or imagined, along the Oregon Trail.
I have... dreamed of being attacked by wolves and bears. ...the heart has a thousand misgivings and the mind is tortured with anxiety and often as I passed the fresh made graves I have glanced at the side boards of the wagon not knowing how soon it might serve as a coffin for some one of us.

- Lodisa Frizzel


However, the truth is that nine out of ten emigrants made it safely to Oregon. Most of the women who set out on the Oregon Trail survived to help their families put down roots in the West, but not many of them were happy about it, at least to begin with. The emigrants, it should be recalled, usually set out in April or May and arrived in October or November -- just as the winter rains were setting in. Thus, their first impressions of Oregon were affected by the gray, damp days of wintertime in the Willamette Valley. Perhaps suffering from seasonal depression on top of everything else, a significant minority of emigrants probably would have turned right around and started back home if their wagons and oxen had been in any shape to travel.
My most vivid recollection of that first winter in Oregon is of the weeping skies and of Mother and me also weeping. I was homesick for my schoolmates in Chicago and I thought I would die. We knew no one in Portland. We had no use for Portland, nor for Oregon, and were convinced that we never would care for it.

- Marilla Washburn Bailey


Given some time to adjust, though, most of the emigrants ended up well pleased with their new homes.
When the snow was three or four feet deep in Wisconsin, I picked wild flowers in Oregon. Everything around me, so far as nature was concerned, was charming to behold.

- Emeline T. Fuller