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Let’s Go Fly a Kite

Okay, it was maybe more than a kite on a string. For Christmas last year I gave the kids and Amanda an airplane ride. I had coordinated it with my cousin to try and make it happen. Calendars, health, and a number of things had to be considered. But we made it happen. Here are some photos of our flying trip.

I want my children to experience new things. I want them to consider more of the world around them and the options that are available. The kids had made a numbber of observations in 2019 regarding birds, Hiram at one point talking about The Sword in the Stone. He referenced Wart and Merlin getting to fly and all he learned. It triggered a thought for an experience.

First we had to drive to the Twin Falls, Idaho airport, Joslin Field. We met up with family and made our way to the airport. We made it through the security gate and found our way to the hangar. Inside was this beauty waiting for us, a 2006 Van’s Aircraft RV-10.

We had to move another plane out of the way in the hangar in order to get this one out. We moved it out of the hangar and did all the checks necessary. Here we did a picture before loading up. Due to limited size inside, we had to make two trips for the entire family to make a flight. Amanda and I went up with the boys first, then with the girls.

The Ross Family getting read to start up and fly away to make some memories.

Here are a couple of photos of the inside of the plane before I get to some of what we captured outside the plane.

Hiram, James, and Amanda Ross waiting to get into the air.
Hiram Ross loving this flight.
Proof I was present, Paul Ross, in the front of the plane with Darrell Schmidt, pilot. We are very grateful for Darrell letting us impose on his time to go flying. Having passed 40, the hair is getting mighty thin up there, and that was not due to altitude.
Aliza, Lillian, and Amanda Ross waiting for the next turn in the air.
Aliza Ross loving her flight, Twin Falls, Idaho, in the background.
Amanda and Lillian Ross did not put their electronic devices away during the flight!

Here are a couple of highlights of what we saw flying over Twin Falls and Jerome Counties, Idaho.

The confluence of Rock Creek and Snake River at the junction of Rock Creek Canyon and the Snake River Canyon.
Beautiful Blue Lakes Country Club, Snake River, Perrine Bridge, and the mighty Shoshone Falls up the Snake River Canyon.
Shoshone Falls
Twin Falls Temple
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Correction on Jordan/Williams Photo

CORRECTION: THIS IS NOT David D Williams and Gwenlliam Jordan, it is Joseph Willard Horsley and Erma Busenbark.

I am a bit disappointed to announce that this photo is not as we had believed. This photo was in a stack of Donaldson photos and I was told it was a photo of David D and Gwenlliam Jordan Williams. David and Gwenlliam is the parents of my Great Great Grandmother Mary Elizabeth Williams Donaldson.

We had no other photos of David and Gwenlliam in which to compare the photo. I posted the photo on FamilySearch in 2013, it is now removed. At the time, I had a hunch the photo was not them. Since the time of the photo, my Grandpa has passed away, Aunt Betty has passed away. I don’t know where the photo went that had writing on the back (and I didn’t scan the back).

I was contacted by another lady who indicated the photo is actually of Joseph Willard and Erma Busenbark Horsley.

Here is another picture of Erma. To me it is easily the same lady.

Erma Busenbark Horsley Oram

The fact that this lady is related to Betty Oram Donaldson and that I think she had the photo above, I am not concerned we had the wrong names. However, I wish I could see the back of the photo.

But I am convinced enough to remove it as David D and Gwenlliam Williams.

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Andra Marriage Certificate

Bill and Mary Andra Marriage Certificate

I received a number of envelopes, documents, and photos from some cousins living in Arizona. Patricia Trimble and Twila Lemmons are the daughters of Golden Rulon Andra, brother to my Colleen Mary Andra.

As I worked through some of the photos and papers I came upon this document. It is the original. A thick vellum like paper with the handwriting written on it. I sat down and stared at it for a very long time. I tried to imagine the day. I imagined which of the sealing rooms in the Salt Lake Temple this sealing took place in 1920. I don’t know. But 10 March 1920 was a day a long life and large family formally began for William “Bill” and Mary Andra. They would both live for another 70 years. 12 children, 46 grandchildren, and many more descendants. Most of those years were spent near Preston and Whitney, Idaho. Both are buried in Whitney.

Alvin Fielding Smith (1874-1948) was the sealer, son of Joseph Fielding Smith (1838-1918). Peter James Sandberg (1852-1921) and Thomas Biesinger (1844-1931) were the witnesses. Interestingly, online, in October the same year, both were the witnesses with the same Sealer. Not sure if witnesses were also a calling then or not, but more than six months later all these men performed the exact same act as they did for Bill and Mary. I understand that their Bishop while living in Salt Lake City/Sugar House was LeGrand Richards (1886-1983), he was Bishop from 1920-1925, so very likely a true recollection.

Bill and Mary Andra Family. Back (l-r): William Fredrick Jr, Golden Rulon; Middle Row: Sergene, Mildred “Millie”, Colleen, June; Front: Donald Wanner, Larry Eugene, William Fredrick, Dale, Mary Louise, and Ross Leslie Andra.

This photo was also included in the photos. I understand from the family that Millie was pregnant in this photo in 1946. Gary was born in January 1947, so that seems to fit. Grandpa Andra always joked this photo made it look like he had flowers in his hair. It does look like that. This photo is a constant memory of my childhood, always sitting on my Grandmother’s vanity. She mentioned it to me often, I probably asked about it to start the conversations. There was an obvious fondness. I believe it is for those reasons that I also hold a fondness for it. I never had a very good scan of the photo and even online the copies were pixelated. I am happy to report this one is scanned and uploaded to FamilySearch in its highest quality.

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Little Moments

There are so many little moments in life that I wish we caught more and recorded. Not necessarily in photos, but just that they were preserved. I am also cautious about what and how much I share on an open blog due to privacy concerns.

I pulled out my camera at a little birthday dinner for Aliza with Amanda’s parents, Bryan and Jill Hemsley, on 6 November 2020. (I know, we missed Guy Fawkes…) I don’t know what they were looking at on the cell phone, but this just showed how much these kids love their Grandma! Shout out to great food at Denny’s in Burley, Idaho. A regular favorite due to their clearly telling us what is gluten free on the menu. Oh, the joys of having Celiac in the family.

James, Lillian, Aliza, and Hiram Ross surrounding Jill Hemsley

The other photo I captured of the night is the attempt of James to drink root beer and milk simultaneously.

James drinking root beer and milk at the same time
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Jonas-Melycher Wedding

Back (l-r): Milo Ross, Willie Melycher, Doug Jonas, Brook Jonas; Middle: Sandy Ross, Jackie Jonas Melycher, Colleen Jonas; Front: Paul Ross, Andra Ross

I have mentioned earlier that I was given scores of Andra photos. I have been scanning them all, preserving them, and uploading them to FamilySearch before I divvy them out to family members. In those photos, I stumbled upon this one. I remember this day, 23 July 1988.

William Francis Melycher Jr and Jackie Jonas, my Aunt, were married at my Grandmother’s home in Paul, Idaho. First time I ever wore a tuxedo. I got into trouble for making the 2 liter containers of ginger ale blow up in the driveway. Of course, shaking and throwing them into the air to see which way they blow up when they finally explode. That was after the festivities…

It was a fun day for us as kids. But I think this is one of the best family photos I have for my own family as well as my Grandma’s family.

Dad just looks so huge. Everyone commented on how big Dad is/was. To me he was Dad and he was always that size.

Mom looks so thrilled. A look she regularly had throughout life.

Jackie is stunning.

Grandma is beautiful.

Andra and I have such blond hair, just like Jackie.

What a happy day it was and this photo reminds me of it.

My Grandma kept a beautiful home and yard. This photo gives a small glimpse of the pride she took in it.

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Weekend to Palisades

Star Valley Wyoming Temple

Earlier this summer we took a little family get away to Lake Palisades. A family friend let us use their family cabin for the weekend. We very much appreciate their hospitality and friendship. We took the opportunity to also do some limited traveling. Above you can see the Star Valley Temple in Afton, Lincoln, Wyoming. The temple is shuttered due to Coronavirus. Amanda will have to share pictures of the Star Valley Tabernacle.

Blevins Family Cabin

We visited in middle of July. We also took the chance to drive over to Alpine and Jackson, Teton, Wyoming. Of course we had to get a picture with the famous elk horn arches. Somehow the picture makes it appear very few people were around. But in the middle of tourist season, and despite Coronavirus and mask mandates, the place was crawling with tourists. We got nearly all our state license plates in Jackson for our road games.

Ross Family in Jackson, Wyoming, 17 July 2020, mandated masks and all

We took some time to go play with kayaks on Big Elk of the Palisades Reservoir.

Amanda, Hiram, James, and Aliza Ross
Hiram, Aliza, Lillie, James, and Amanda Ross on Big Elk of Palisades Reservoir
Lillie and James Ross fishing at Palisades Reservoir

Grandpa and Grandma Hemsley drove up on Saturday and joined us for all day Sunday.

Breakfast with Grandma and Grandpa Hemsley. From Grandma clockwise, Jill and Bryan Hemsley, James, Amanda, Hiram, Lillie, and Aliza Ross

It was a fun weekend. Maybe we will have to impose ourselves and ask to use the cabin again sometime.

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Overland Avenue looking north over Main Street

Looking north over Overland Avenue near Main Street in Burley, Idaho

When I saw this photo it caught my attention. I don’t recall the topic of the book this photo was in, but I took a picture of it.

I am guessing this is the late 1910s from the top of the Mayfair Building, I don’t recall the name on the building.

Of particular interest is the old flour mill in front of the grain silos. I don’t know when it came down, I don’t have any memories of it in the 1980s.

The truck was not yet in production, or widely available in Burley, for shipping commodities as these are all wagons. I cannot tell if they are waiting to go to the mill or if something else is going on. The line appears to keep going past Main, but not quite sure it goes all the way to the silos.

I recognize the two story buildings on the right as they are both still there. The building to their left, the old Thriftway Building was taken down about 1990 and is now just a parking lot.

None of the buildings between Main and the flour mill, including the mill, are still in existence.

I cannot quite tell if we are seeing the impounded water from Milner Dam in the background. Milner predated Burley so it is very likely the wide open space is Milner Lake.

I was thinking the flag could tell me a time frame but I cannot see the stars to any degree to tell if this is before or after 1912. This is likely the 48 star flag from 1912-1959.

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Grandpa’s Pumpkin Patch

Grandpa Milo’s Pumpkins 13 September 2020

Fall is upon us. Harvest is happening. Thought I better share a picture of my kids with Dad’s pumpkins.

The grain in the background has a swipe of the field harvested, the rest was done the next day.

Dad had a frost that killed all the vines, so he pulled them out and that left the pumpkins behind.