June 30

June 30.

Tell about seeing something you thought was very beautiful.

When traveling out west would see many
kinds of rock formations. I've always wondered
why God created mts and these rocks. I guess
for its' beauty only. 

June 29

June 29.

Did you ever have or make a swing?

Had a sack swing in my
youth. Simply a thick strong barn rope
from a large tree branc. Then we would
make (build) a stand with a ladder up high
and swing from the ladder onto the swing.
Got quiet a ride swinging back & forth 
for 3 or 4 times. Then do it over again. 

June 28

June 28.

Tell about your first very own car.

My very first car was a used 1953 Bel-Aire
4 door Chevy. My Dad owned this and I
could use it. It had PS PB (power steering, power brakes?) auto. radio.
A lot of cars didn't have all this equipment on them.
The car I bought for myself was a new 1959 white Impala
or (???). 

June 27

June 27.

Tell about a bike you had.

I had a bike with fenders on it
and wide seat. 

June 26

As a youth, did you do any craft, sewing, stitching or needlework?

No

June 25

June 25.

Did you go barefoot in the summer? If so, relate an experience about stepping on something.

No. My feet where
too tender to go without
shoes. 

June 24

Were you ever chased by an animal?

Yes a young cow had
had a calf about a day old when I
wanted to move the cow & calf to a different
yard. I was trying to get the calf into
the new yard when the cow came at
me. I ran away but not fast enough.
She kicked (?) my but up so I flew in the air
and landed on my feet but I sprained my
angle in the process. Your dad T was there too and
got between myself and the cow because I couldn't walk
on my sore ankle. So your Dad T saved me
from the cow. 

June 23

Did you ever go skinny-dipping?

No I wasn't skinny.


Did you ever make mud pies?

Yes, I used jar lids to hold
the water and dirt to make mud 

June 22

What did you learn from your father?

Always be truthful, never lie
or if you made up a story tell
wether the story was true or not.

June 21

June 21.

Did your father ever make a special gift for you?

Yes he made a 4-wheel
cart for Bonnie "the pony" to pull so
I could drive Bonnie around the yard 

June 20

Relate your family Father's Day traditions, or tell me more about what kind of person your father was.

My father was a soft spoken
person but a very hard worker.
I remember him digging trenches on the
farm with the spade by hand to put
water lines in to the livestock buildings
& house. My mother on the other hand was
more dominate. Also worked hard, helped milk
and clean the separator every morning.
Also a good clean house keeper.
 

June 19

Tell about some good advice your father gave you.

Never let a job unfinished.

June 18

June 18.

Tell a favorite memory of your father.

My "Dad" always prayed and
read the Bible at meal times.
Also I sat next to him in church and
learned to sing bass by listening to "Dad"
sing bass. 

June 17

June 17.

Where did you go swimming?

In the bath tub with 3" water.

June 16

June 16.

How did you learn to swim?

I can't swim.

June 15

June 15.

Relate your happiest memory as a youth.

My parents had enough
confidence in me to drive car
at age 16 so I could go to CE.
Also I drove to Denver and back
with mom and dad and Uncle Frank &
Aunt Myna Muilenburg & Virgil M the
map reader.

June 14

June 14.

Share a childhood memory about a death that affected you.

I will always remember when my mom
passed away. She needed a surgery and found out
her liver had been damaged while she had
jaundice as a young woman. After the surgery the liver
did not purify the blood good enough, so she
developed infection and died 3 days later.
She was only 70 years old.

June 13

June 13.

Tell another memory about a parade.

Tulip Fest parades for many
years

June 12

June 12.

If you were ever in a parade, tell about it.

I was in a number
parades. Whiel in NWC we used
my car to pull a float in the homecoming
parade

June 11

June 11.

Tell about a strange person that lived in your town.

His name was George but lived
on a farm. He would buy all kinds of 
junk machinery and sometimes fix them up
as he parked all this junk in his
groove

June 10

June 10.

Tell about other paying jobs you had as a youth.

Getting paid by a
neighbor for choping sunflowers
out of his field. .10 a plant (weed) 

June 9

June 9.

What was your first job? How much did you get paid?

Doing chores for a
neighbor while he went on vacation.
Nothing, we exchanged labor.

June 8

June 8.

Tell about one of the first meals you ever prepared.

I made many hamburgers
on the grill and made grapes, apples, marshmellows
salad in whip cream. Still love this
meal 65 years later.

June 7

June 7.

Do you remember a favorite snack that you liked to make?

As a teenager I would
make fudge many times. My mom
would ask me to while we were
watching TV on long winter evenings.

Now I make popcorn and carmel
corn many times a share it with
you and you and  you.

June 6

June 6.

Did you ever go on a snipe hunt?

Yes an I caught 3 of them to
prove they are real Ha. Ha.

June 5

June 5.

Did you ever go on a camp out? Tell about it.

Yes. Slept in a pup tent
but nice and warm. 

June 4

June 4.

Tell about hot dog or marshmallow roasting.

Our family did this many times while
camping with smores and pies on a stick
We still do this after over 60 years
of fun.

June 3

June 3.

Did you ever sleep under the stars?

Yes Grandma Ardean & I went on
a campout with the couples club. We
slept in a pup tent. In July it was
very hot but cooled off over night.
We did sleep OK but was awful
crowded in a little tent for 2 people.

June 2

June 2.

Describe a place you liked to go to be alone.

Up into the haw mouw where I could
admire the large barn roof and all the bales
of hay and straw. The farm cats would
be up there going in and out of the
bales of straw.

June 1

June 1.

Did you have a favorite nature place you liked to explore?

I would like to be at a tile outlet

into a creek with cleak water coming out

of the tile good enough to drink. It was always

very cold.

May 31

May 31.

Do you have any good bathtime stories?

When at the age of 2 & 3 I
took a bath in a square wash tub which
is used for rinsing clothes out of the wash
machine. I out grew that tub by age 5 and
had to take baths with wash cloth and sink.
When I turned eight yers old dad built the house on the farm which had a tub in it.
Also a shower in the basement.

May 30

May 30.

Grandpa & Grandma De Haan          Grandma DH smoking a candy cigarette.
                                                           Ben M, Rob Rowenhorst, Johna M Jackie Punt
                                                          Grandpa back of Head

May 29

May 29.

Tell about the closest friend you had during your childhood.

It was a cousin named Arlin Plender.
 He had a pony and so did I. We would ride
to each others' place and did things
together.

May 28

May 28.

Did you play a musical instrument?

Yes, I took piano lessons 
for 2 1/2 years, I could play hymns but
never continued on. It did help for singing
and know the keys used. I always wished our
high school would have had a band. I would've played
something I'm sure.

May 27

May 27.

Share a special memory of Memorial Day.

I remember a cousin did
not come home alive after WWII. He
died while cleaning his guy which had a bullet
in it and went off and killed him. He is
buried in OC Cemetery. I always think of him
on that day.

May 26

May 26.

Tell about Memorial Day traditions during your youth.

Many times the Plender families would go to
a park for dinner and play softball.
Went fishing a time or two but never caught
very many fish. Then they would be dead
by the time we got home so just dumped
them in the spreader with the dead pigs,
That is why I never got interested in fishing.

May 25

May 25.

Were there consequences?

Yes, Dad whipped us all.

The boy with the white belt
may be your dad. Uncle
Rick is looking this way.
Ask your dad if he thinks
it is he.

May 24

May 24.

What was the dumbest stunt pulled by you and a brother or sister?

Throwing a ball as fall as we
could. The barn was in striking
distance. A window in the barn was
hit and smashed.

May 23

May 23.

Did you have homework during your school years?

Yes I would bring home a text book
of some subject and study it before
going to bed for the night. 

May 22

May 22.

Tell about your graduation exercises or traditions. How many students were in your graduating class?

We always had a
commencement ceremony.
It would begin with the processial of the
Sr class and all the faculty. The principal was 
the MC. Speeches by Valdictarian and Saloletarian. 
Awards for achievements handed out. I received the 
athletic award. A song or two by the
mixed chorus. Supt handing out diplomas.

May 20

May 20.

What year did you graduate from high school? What do you recall about your feelings, emotions, hopes and dreams at this time of your life?

1956 I was glad to graduate but
didn't know if I wanted to go to college.
When college started teh next fall I decided to go.
My parents didn't encourage it however.
Looking back I was glad I went to NW College. The
experience is great learning in itself. Plus got to
know a multitude of people one would not get to
know if hadn't gone to college. Went on choir tour
to Denver churches and other places witnessing for Christ.
 

May 19

May 19.

If you have another photograph of your childhood to share, place it here.

Two old ladies sitting on a park
bench conversing. One says to the
other, which is farther away the
moon or Florida. The other
lady says: dah can you see Florida?

May 18

May 18.

What early childhood rhymes or songs do you remember?

Old Mother Hubbard
Bah bah black sheep
Little boy blue
Twinkle twinkle little star

May 16 & 17

May 16 & 17.

Share a memory involving a war during your childhood or youth.

I remember at age 6 & 7 I would
listen to the radio on news how
the II World War was going.
My dad would listen too. 

May 15

May 15.

Describe your military experience or that of someone in your family.

I was not involved in any
military altho I went for a
physical in 1957. There wasn't any conflicts
in the world so I was never called to duty.
I remember brothers Glenn and Lee
going into the military Glenn to Virginia
where he was a mechanic for Army
trucks for 1 1/2 years. Lee went to Germany
for 2 years. They both came home
and started farming. 

May 14

May 14.

Tell about the first dance you ever went to.

I might never go to dances.
My parents forbade me to go.

Did your high school have a promo or formal dance.

We had a Jr, Sr, banquet
every year in April. Boys in suits, girls in
formals. The Soph class would serve the
food and fun time. A few dates but
not me.

May 13

May 13.

What kind of dances did you do as a youth?

Not much - step with the beat to
the music.

May 12

May 12.

Tell a favorite singer and a song that he/she sang?

George Beverly Shea sang for the Billy Graham
Crusades for many years. "I'd rather have
Jesus" was one song he sang after which
had very good works and meanings I liked
very much. 

May 11

May 11.

What was your favorite singing group or band?

When I was a Soph in
HS the Blackwood Bros. quartet gave a
concert in Newkirk gym. From then on
I was hooked on Southern Gospel Music
Now there are dozens of Groups who sing
SGM I like them all.

May 10

May 10.

Name some popular hit songs from your youth.

"A White Sport Coat and a Pink 
Carnation"
I did wear one at our Jr Sr banquet
when I was a Sr