The Gypsy and His Lamb

When my Grandmother Esther married Theodore Glomb, life had it's peeks and valleys. Ted was given a series of vaccinations in the Army that had irretrievable weekend his heart. They were no longer able to work on the farm and needed to find a job that would not be as strenuous due to his preexisting conditions.
The small town of Deary offered a few possibilities. Ted applied for a job at the Deary Mercantile and saved every penny he could with out jeopardizing his family. Ted had a vision of opening a Confectionery where they could sell candy, soda's, ice cream, and have a small place for those who would like to informally dine.
It was not long before the opportunity arose for him to leave the Mercantile and open up The Deary Confectionery. It was right on the corner of Eighth Street which was the center of town. In just a short time Ted and Esther were established and customers would stroll in to browse and dine. The candy could be viewed through the plated glass counter or you could sit up high on one of the tall stools to taste a mouthwatering ice cream soda. There were two booths for serving soup and sandwiches that Grandma Esther would be busily preparing in the back kitchen.
There was always the regulars because Deary was a small town. On occasion there would be quite a stir when the Gypsy's would come to town. The little children would run for their life and hide as the Gypsy's were known for their fortunetelling,wild parties and steeling. It was rumored that they would steel children. The very sound of the word Gypsy would change the atmosphere of an entire town.
It was not unheard of for some of the Gypsy's to enter the Confectionery. Ted would be watchful but always treated them with respect. One day a Gypsy entered the store with a white lamb draped over his shoulders. Marian remembers it well as the tall, dark, mysterious man held the lambs front legs with with one hand the the back feet with the other. Teds little girl Marian peeked around the corner from the back room adjacent to the large walk in freezer. The Gypsy spotted her and asked Ted's permission to give the little lamb to his daughter. Ted glanced at his little Marian and nodded to the tall unshaven man with acceptance. Marian was excited by the news but to frightened to greet the Gypsy any further.
It was almost closing time so Ted took Marian and her lamb and set out for a long hike down the railroad tracks to Swan and Emma's farm. Emma was delighted to see them and their new woolen companion. Emma raised the lamb for Marian and later sold it and received five dollars. She opened a bank account for her special granddaughter, that was the first five dollars Marian had ever received.
C.A. Bresin

Gypsy's are members of nomadic people who usually travel in small caravans. The Gypsy's scattered throughout Europe and North America, who maintain a nomadic way of life in industrialized societies. The Gypsy's migrated from NW India from about the 9th century onwards. Any member of a people originating in northern India but now living worldwide, principally in Europe. Most speak Romany in addition to the local language. It is thought that Roma groups left India in successive migrations, reaching western Europe by the 15th century. In the 20th century they spread to North and South America and Australia. Because of their often nomadic and marginalized lives, population figures are largely guesswork; estimates in the early 21st century range from two to three million. They have often been persecuted and harassed; the Nazis killed about 400,000 Roma in extermination camps. How many Roma retain a nomadic lifestyle is unclear, but those that migrate do so at least seasonally along patterned routes that ignore national boundaries. They pursue occupations compatible with a nomadic life. In the past they were often livestock traders, tinkers, fortune-tellers, and entertainers; today they are often car mechanics, auto-body repairmen, and workers in traveling circuses and amusement parks. Confederations of 10–100 families elect chieftains for life, but their title is not heritable. Women are organized as a group within the confederation and represented by a senior woman. Modern Roma culture faces erosion from urban influences; integrated housing, economic independence, and intermarriage with non-Roma have weakened Roma law.
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Gypsey

Romania Reborn Imagine a small child left alone in the world, abandoned without anyone to nurture, love, teach, or provide. This is the reality for far too many Gypsey children in today's Romania. Other children live in their families but face a daunting future of poverty, hardship and neglect. We're committed to changing that.
http://romania-reborn.org/

Recounting Cherished Memories

My mother recounts the cherished times of visiting her Grandmother Emma and Grandpa Swan on the farm. Her childhood memories included her and her cousin Billy riding the two draft horses Frank and Bluecher. Marian was so tiny her legs would stick out straight on each side of the big burly horse. Her and Billy would trot along happily giggling while astride the large footed beasts.
Frank and Bluecher were Swan's right hand help when working and logging the fields. Swan and Emma would rise for early morning breakfast long before day light. Shortly after, Frank and Bluecher would be hitched up for a long day of work. As the morning would bring light Emma would prepare Swan a biscuit and some food for nourishment. The food would be placed in a small metal bucket and a clothe would be wrapped around the handle and placed into Fido's mouth. Fido was a black and white Border Collie who would faithfully take the bucket of food quite a distance to Swan on a daily basis. When the sun would begin to set Swan and his faithful team would start their journey home. Swan was very appreciative of Frank and Bluecher and respected the work they did for him. Before Swan would enter the cabin for dinner he would carefully brush and feed them. He believed in setting boundaries for his animals and would stand no non sense but he treated them with love and kindness.
Emma worked hard through out the day and would have supper waiting for Swan's arrival. As day light would fade the small cabin would be lite by oil lamps. Emma would remain up and complete some chores as Swan would turn in for the night. My mother recounts staying up late with Emma and hearing a grumble come from Grandpa's room. She asked Emma, "Grandma what is that sound?" Emma would respond in her gently Swedish accent, "Oh, that is yust your grandpa sayin his prayers."
Neither Emma nor Swan took life for granted. A pioneers life was filled with lots of hard work, much loss and cherished times of rejoicing and celebration. None of which were taken for granted.
C.A. Bresin

The Draft Horse
The horses that we recognize as draft horses today, with their powerful bodies and impressive height may have first appeared on the scene in the beginning of the nineteenth century. These horses were bred for transporting freight and for farming, and they were of a particular use when it came to pulling carriages and carts, especially in the time before the railroads. In America, the early twentieth century saw thousands of draft horses being shipped in from Europe. During the last part of the nineteenth century, there were many American draft registries founded, and by 1915, the Percheron was the most numerous draft horse to be found in America.
After a decline following the invention of the automobile and the truck, the modern draft horse is seeing a marked increase in numbers. More and more people are realizing that the heavy draft horse breeds have some very important contributions to make, whether it is for trail riding or in the show rings. Today's draft horses are still in use in an entertainment capacity all over the world, but this is far from their only function.
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-History-of-the-Draft-Horse&id=2637908

A Journey to the New World

Awe, how I marvel at the old stories of my ancestors. I hold onto them like pieces of gold to be retold from generation to generation. My mother's,grandmother and grandfather came from Sweden crossing the vast waters by ship and arriving in the 1800's. My Great Grandmother Emma Larson recounts that there was much dancing on the ship Helvetia. Swan and Emma journeyed across the United States and settled in Deary Idaho.
President Lincoln wanted to make sure every poor man could have his own home. In 1862 President Lincoln endorsed the Homestead Act giving settlers the opportunity to acquire one hundred and sixty acre parcels. Each homesteader could claim their one parcel by building an 12x12 dwelling thus showing improvement upon the land. Swan had built a log cabin that would be their first residence and the place that my Grandmother Esther and Uncle Albert would be born. Many new land dwellers had cheated and built small scale replica's looking like doll houses. They skated by on the pretense that it said, 12x12 and the requirements did not specify inches or feet. This was to their advantage because as the inspector would leave their property, they would go to the next one hundred and sixty acre parcel and display another toy sized replica. Many larger replicas had wheels on them so they could be easily moved from parcel to parcel. There were even instances that a husband would claim one side of the dwelling and the wife the other as it was built on the property line of two separate parcels. It was a cheaters way of obtaining more property in contrast to those who were honest and worked by the sweat of their brow.
In the old country my ancestors were loggers by trade and so they resumed the trade they knew so well in the new world. Many of my relatives followed to Deary Idaho to reside and work with one another. Deary provided them with an abundance of trees to be harvested for building their homes. We must remember, this was raw untouched land that was not an easy terrain to clear. The dirt had never been worked to obtain crops and good soil would be needed for providing their food.
Later, Emma's brother Peter would start a saw mill that would offer family members a job. The grand opening of Pers Saw Mill was a rainy and mud laden day. The festivities were complete with the women in their long dresses and floppy hats.
The photo is an original of the Peter Dahlberg's (military name) Grand opening of his saw mill.
C.A. Bresin

In the early 1800's Deary Idaho was just finding it's beginning's. Deary attracted Scandinavian immigrants because of the vast amounts of pine, fur, and cedar trees. Logging was a skill the Scandinavians carried for generations from their homeland.

Goose on the Loose Tugs at Family Ties

Settling into a new area is always an adjustment. We were happy to find a small farm with some partially wooded pasture and a nice barn.
As winter approached it truly became a winter wonderland. Living in a wooded area we had wild critters that we had never seen before other than through a picture in a book.
One day we spotted a white fox at the back of our property. It was so white that it truly blended in with the snow. The horses were attentive to any new intruder. The chickens would cackle up a warning that all the neighbors could hear. Next, we heard Lucy let out a honk that we had never heard before. Her wild and muffled honking was carried off into the depths of the wood until we could hear it no more. Later in the day we found some of Lucy's feathers scattered into the woods..
A neighboring horse owner personally knew of a columnist and sent her over to capture our story of Lucy's beginning s and travels on the airplane and heart wrenching capture by a white fox. She entitled it, "Goose on the Loose Tugs at Family Ties." The article gave a wonderful tribute to our beloved goose and the wiley travels of the Bresin's known to many as the Clampit's.
I thought it was a long shot but I had even called our local high school and asked if they would broadcast over the load speaker about the capture of our goose.
I had really given up hope that we would even find any remains of our Lucy , until one morning our phone rang. It was a kind gentleman that lived up on the corner. He told me the story of this goose that came frantically flying out of the woods and seemed to be so tame. His granddaughter and come home from school and told him about the announcement about the goose. Could it possible be, that she had escaped the snares of the white fox that had snatched her to be his mouth watering dinner?
We went to the gentleman's home to find our much loved and now famous Lucy waiting to be taken back to her barnyard of firends.
C.A. Bresin

Lucy and the Clampits

Moving is one of the most exciting and grueling times all wrapped up into one chaotic package. I recently read that moving is the second stressful occurrence in ones life, next to the death of a loved one.
The advantages of moving with Cooperate America is that they send movers into your home and virtually pack you up. The disadvantages are that you have three to five days to find a new home in an area that you have never been to before.
On moving day the final papers are signed the animals are crated and sedated in their containers. The larger animals are already on their way with professionals who transport large animals.
The big day has finally arrived.We are all changed into our traveling clothes. Next we sedate and drop off the animals at a special location at the airport. When boarding the airplane the atmosphere is filled with anticipation that all our children are settled in and that the animals will hopefully have a safe and peaceful ride. The dogs and cats are easily resting nicely in a compartment adjacent to our luggage. However, Lucy the goose could not be sedated. Upon our first stop the honking began. People were turning there heads and talking audible to the rest of the people in the plane. "Oh my gosh, is that a goose?" I finally fest up and resounded from the back of the cabin. The passengers seemed to be delighted with the experience of traveling with the boiseterous passenger. There was chuckling through out our travels.
By the time we arrived at our destination in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, we hurried to gather our luggage and wait for for containers filled with our animals. The attendant that was unloading them was counting one, two, three dog crates and one, two, three cat crates. Upon the arrival of the seventh crate, he then paused and said, "Lady please tell me this is not yours too" "Please tell me this is your Christmas dinner?" I smiled and explained that she was a pet and that when we move, we are much like the Clampit's. Where we go, she goes. Lucy was happily resounding all the way through the entire airport. We had unknowingly become celebrities and were stopped by many delighted passers by.
To be continued...
C.A. Bresin

A Christmas Goose

It was Fall in Oklahoma and a few of us from our neighboring church set out on a adventure to purchase live turkeys. A neighboring farmer had seen an article in the newspaper and we set out to this remote spot to experience the depths of what Thanksgiving was truly about. As average Americans, we take for grated the provision that is quickly purchased at the store. I had wanted our children to understand a part of the process that the early settlers had experienced and truly understand the gratefulness of the meaning of giving thanks.
We arrived at our remote destination to find some rather pathetic, under fed turkeys in a open fenced arena. A few geese were flapping aimlessly amongst them as the wranglers caught turkeys for their perspective customers. We each picked our bird and I decided to add a goose to my order.
We all traveled back to the farmers to begin the butchering process. As we opened the gullets we found that they had been fed ground up glass instead of grit. We had certainly run into some less than first class turkey farmers. I remember, one of the little boys that was observing went up to one of the Turkeys that was flapping after being butchered and was saying, "It's all right Mr. Turkey, it's all right. I then realized that I had to console him and told him that those were just the turkeys reflexes and that the turkey was instantaneously and humanly dead when the farmer cut his throat.
We were all busy plucking feathers, removing organs and cleaning the birds with fresh water. They were then wrapped and ready for our freezers. Amidst all the work, I noticed the farmer was going for my goose. After all the emotions of this day this city gal decided that this goose would remain a pet. The humorous state of affairs was that the goose was probably the only bird that had any fat on her. Needles to say, I took one look at her and Lucy the goose she became.
My husband has always allowed me to drag about any animal home. The truth of the matter is, he enjoys the animals about as much as I. It was no time at all that I would see him walking around with Lucy in his arms while feeding our chickens. This became a sort of ritual that Lucy would follow him around at feeding time waiting to be picked up and caressed.
Being a part of Cooperate America offers the advantages and disadvantages of moving across the United States. We had grown quite comfortable and considered the people in Oklahoma some of the friendliest people you will ever meet on the face of this earth. One evening, David came home from work to announce that a position had opened and that we would be moving to Pennsylvania. When ever these announcements took place, my heart would kick into gear as to every ones feelings but the larger task at hand was, how on earth would we get everything and everyone moved to another far away destination. For those of you who don't know us, we are much like the Clampits. When we move, we all move.
This is just a glimmer of the beginning of the future antics of Lucy the Goose. To be continued...
C.A. Bresin

Dreams That Will Last a Lifetime

Each of these spotted wonders represents a place in the time line of my life. As I release each of them to a new home, I realize that this chapter in my life is closing. For us it has been filled with the joy of purchasing our first Jacobs to growing a sizable flock. I hold with in my heart the cherished memories of the unfolding excitement of learning how to skirt and tag a fleece, and the reality that all the excitement of this process was just removing poop and debris. I have found the richness of expanding my knowledge through professionals that shared their expertise with me to properly care for the health of God's creatures. I confess that I have detested the bitter Pennsylvania winters, only to find the delight in the miracle of birth with each of these spotted vivacious bundles. I have discovered each personality and place they hold within the flock. I have enjoyed exploring all the artistic possibilities that can be made with this lustrous fleece. I hold the reality of the years of accomplishment while breeding to perfect from the rough and wiry Jacob fleece to a hand spinners delight. I have enjoyed  the feasting and the provision of food for our table and the times of fellowship and special moments, they have provided. I will always be forever grateful to have been able to walk this path for the past ten years of my life. I have and will cherish that this time was never to long and seems cut so short. I will hold onto the found memories and will always cherish the images to bring those glorious days to the present. God has richly blessed our family as we have created, enjoyed, and cherished, dreams that will last a life time.
C.A. Bresin