Ornaments

These are the family ornaments. They each go along with a story of an ancestor. Some of them show signs of wear. But we enjoy each one. Oh, I came across another one of two bears in a tent that I'm going to use to go with Grandma and Grandpa's honeymoon bear story but I haven't take a picture of it yet. I'm sure that there are some others that I'm missing.

This snowflake represents William. He was a scout for the church. He helped layout out Salt Lake City. He helped build old Utah fort. Finally he was commissioned to explore Southern Utah. On his way back he was caught in a bad snowstorm in which he got his feet frozen.

Don't think I got the memo on this one... but I'm pretty sure it is a "family ornament" This one is my kids' favorite! It is a real bible. It has "disappeared" many times to the kid who wanted to play with it. We now put it up high on the tree. It represents Mette Marie who requested a Psalmody instead of a ring when she was married. While her husband was away fighting the Schlesvig Holstein War, they were able to continue writing to each other by covering the stamp with candle wax so that the cancellation wouldn't take. This guard with the bearskin hat represents all the ancestors from England and Wales. This one Eileen picked up in Arizona and represents Grandpa Vernon who worked with the Indians. (I don't dare put this on the tree yet, don't want it broken with all the little kids).Grandma, Alice, loved to ride horses she would often take day-long rides and this ornament represents her.
This apple represents my Mom, Shirley. She was a school teacher. Even in Samoa she served as a Missionary school teacher. As there was a great dirth of reading material she was key in getting the children books sent over from the States. The children liked to sneak the books under their shirts so they could take them home to read some more.

Grandma and Grandpa picked this up for us while they were serving a mini-mission in Alaska.

This one isn't a Nielson family ornament. It is a Keith Jones family ornament. We got it from San Francisco when we went on vacation there. Lots of good memories on that trip!

These represent Aunt Eve. I can't seem to find the story, but they are snow shoes.

Jensine Maretta was known for her delicious cooking... especially her sugar cookies. She often took meals to those who were sick or had a baby. The story is told of her, how she made a meal for a Tramp that came asking for food. When her husband, John R. Sr, teased her about it, she set her best linens, dishes and served up a fancy meal. As the drifter left she picked a flower and put it in his lapel. He didn't know what to make of such treatment.

This one represents Grandma Nielson's "talented and angelic grandchildren." (Grandma obviously doesn't LIVE with those talented and angelic grandchildren. :) )

This one the kind people at the vet's made for us when we had to put Ramses down.

Grandma, Lula Ann was very good at handiwork. (I think I inherited this from her) She was constantly making something. She taught me how to tat. Each of her grandkids got a baby blanket and two pair of booties. All of my babies wore one of my booties when they were blessed. I think Mom made these.

Miriam made this yule log out of a toilet paper roll. I thought it looked cool. She wanted a picture of it. LOL

This house represents John R. Sr. He used to build houses and help the unfortunate people get into them. The story is told of him that while he was working outside once he set his glasses down and then couldn't find them. He looked all over and couldn't find them. So he went in and got his wife to come help him look. Upon her inquiry about where he put them he stamped his foot down and said "Right here!" Of course, he stepped right on his glasses.

This represents Daniel, who was a member of the Mormon Battalion. He was very athletic. It is said that the prophet Joseph Smith rode to Carthage on a horse borrowd from the Henries. Daniel was there when the mantle of Joseph Smith fell on Brigham Young and bore strong testimony of it. This ornament is for Amos. He had, like the Welsh people are known for, a beautiful singing voice. He also spent hours copying music for others to be able to sing from.

This car represents "Shasta II." An old canyon car built from a Model T. "Shasta have water, shasta have oil, shasta have gas and she hasta have a push" to get going.

This represents the Norwegian elf. The people would set out rice pudding and if the elf ate it they were assured of good luck all year. This one somehow got his toes chopped off... poor guy.

Christian Hansen used to herd the geese as a small child. This was not an easy task as the geese could be quite mean.

This represents my dad, Lynn. He was an avid skier. Even as a kid he used barrel staves to ski on. As a teen he even helped start the Sanpete Ski Club. Another member of this club served in WWII as a Paraski Trouper.

The ones I'm sure are missing:

Sled- Amanda was pulled by sled over the mountains by a husband after she spent 3 months snowed in on her honeymoon with her husband and 5 other men (2 of them Indian guides)

Peach- Mary Ann was credited with bringing the Indian Cling peach to Kanab. She would raise peaches then sell them. By doing this she earned enough money to buy her first sewing machine.

String puppet- (I need to restring mine) mostly represents the stories of Hans Christian Anderson. He lived in the same time as Mette and Anders. Mary Ann and Christian lived in the same place, Odense, Denmark, as Hans Christian Anderson.

Bee and beehive- for the beekeeper (I have mine but just didn't get a picture)

Ones I'd like to get (or maybe just ideas??):

Shoes for John R Jr. a shoemaker

Apron for the flying frozen apron story. (I can make some of these)

Milk bottle for dependable milk supply (I think I can get some of these, too)

Chicken for Sam- cutting his hand or a bee as he took one in the house then ran out and left it with Mom

Football? for Wayne

Rifle for Ryan (maybe a crutch- for getting his leg smashed?)

Mara and I must have lead a boring life as I can't think of ornaments for us.

Anyone have any more ideas??

Playing with eyes

First I took the originalThen I tried to play with reflections in the eyes.

This one was the original. You can see me and some plastic white lawn chairs reflected in her eyes. So not the best picture to do this with, but hey, the title of the post says "playing"

Here is her eyes reflecting our "Talita" bear.

And a close up.


Then I tried changing the colors. If I worked on this some I'm sure I could get it more realistic looking. But this is "quick and dirty" playing.

Hey, as long as we are going crazy let's go for cat eyes....

Now, I should go do something useful.