Blackham Boy Poetry

 The Blackham Boys don't write poetry per se ... but there have been some school assignments!

In December 2016, Keaton tried a little experiment, eating a cashew to see if he was still allergic. Yes. Yes he is.  When he had to write a poem for his English class the next week, the experience was his inspiration!

I ate cashews

I nearly died

My throat swelled up

My tongue got tied

My eyes dilated

My skin was dried

"I guess I'm still allergic"

I sadly sighed

There was also a limmerick ...

The boy's face was swollen and red.

He was itching all over his head.

He ate a cashew

He's allergic, it's true

Some Benadryl, and then to bed!

In younger years, Cooper liked to "collect" license plates. Trying to see how many states he could find while we'd be out and about. A trip to Seattle really helped his collection (taking pictures and keeping them on his ipod). In 5th grade, this collection inspired a poem (for a school assignment). 

License plates, license plates

All across the United States.

As I travel in my car

Whether I’m going near or far

I look at the license plates.

In Utah, our cars show what is in our state

Everyone knows the skiing is great!

Or if you like it dry and hot

Give our National Parks a shot.

There are some license plates are just plain yellow.

Like New Mexico. A good place to go and be mellow.

New York and Alaska have yellow plates too.

But Texas, Indiana and Idaho’s are red, white and blue.

Florida features oranges on its plate.

It is also known as the “Sunshine State.”

Both Ohio and Iowa take time to show

The beautiful land where they plant and grow.

Hawaii shows a rainbow so high

Up against a blue, blue sky.

California and Illinois plates are pretty plain.

Except for the fancy cursive of their name.

South Carolina has a plane. They were “first in flight”.

Wyoming shows a cowboy, putting up a fight.

Oregon features a tall tree of green.

But in Arizona, only a cactus can be seen.

Wisconsin says it’s America’s dairy land.

Washington and Colorado feature mountains grand.

Minnesota features it’s 10,000 lakes.

While Nevada proclaims it’s the “Silver State”

Of course there’s a lot more that we could name.

Like Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Maine.

I keep a look out in my car.

But those states are so very far.

Maybe now you’ll start looking too.

To see different states, many or few.

Make it a contest, make it a game.

None of the license plates are exactly the same.

I found a lot … how about you?

Yes, Mom "helped" some with the poem. Fast forward several years to this week, and once again, Coop had to write a poem for school. You know there are many different types of poetry, with different rhyme patterns, line counts, etc. Have you heard of a "Villanelle" poem? You have likely heard one, even if you weren't aware of the actual name. "Do not go gentle into that good night. Old age should burn and rage at end of day. Rage, rage, against the dying of the light." (see HERE for the full poem). For English class, Cooper had to write his own Villanelle poem. All the classic examples sounded so complex that Coop was a little intimidated. I told him that he could use subjects closer to home, and just follow the six stanza, ABA, repeating line structure. I came up with a couple examples for him ...

... and then he came up with his own (and got an A)

I really like to wear shoes

In my closet there is a lot

So many different pairs to choose

Tripping over and getting a bruise

I make sure to tie my laces in a knot

I really like to wear shoes

On the Nike website my brother and I views

Lots of cool shoes that we could have bought

So many different pairs to choose

I will wear them if I go on a cruise

Maybe even on a yacht

I really like to wear shoes

One of my favorites is the Epic React 2’s

I wear them in the gym when I squat

So many different pairs to choose

When I wear them I will not lose

Wearing basketball shoes is when I take my shot

I really like to wear shoes

So many different pairs to choose

Gems Jotted Down by Jensen Kids

 As there has been a focus on Poetry here on the blog recently, I thought I'd feature some poetry from the next generation (to see if it really is in the genes *Ü*). I stuck "poem" into the search bar in the Jensen Journal and found a few to feature here. I also searched Dropbox and found this classic poem from Josh to start us off ...

Good things to come

I love to run

Soccer is fun

That is my poem.

Wendy had saved this little poem Janelle made about Janika ...

Made even more special with the original artwork!

Creative ways to ask/answer for dances would often use rhyme.

Here's a poem from Jase. It got him the date.

Tomorrow - we'll feature some poetry from the Blackham Boys.

We'd love to feature the other families too!

Send pictures/poems to Jen to be showcased in a future post!

Documenting Your Dwelling

 

Here on the blog, we've done several spotlights on where our ancestors lived. Before pictures were so easy to come by in today's technology, finding photos that show the houses from years past are few and far between. Mom/Margie as commented that she wishes she had more pictures of the house she grew up in, and while we do have some photos of the Hermitage House, it would have been nice to have more. Pictures of the outside, the yard, the various rooms. Often we can see parts or portions behind a person, who is the subject of the shot ... but what about taking pictures OF your house, just for the sake of documenting your dwelling?

Derek and Danielle have done a great job decorating their home. They are always adding new projects and clever creations. As a little side-hustle (one of many) D&D have an Instagram and Website to showcase their home and their projects, often with step-by-step instructions. They had Alicia come and capture their home on camera ... both for social media sharing and because it's great to have these things preserved in pictures.  I know it's probably a photography faux pas  to crop/collage these pictures ... but they are all are included in their entirety in Dropbox (D&D/2021). 

Here's a little look at Derek's wallpapering project ... 

Quite the camouflage. 

Consider this a challenge, to make sure you document your dwelling and decor!

Take pictures and write up what you remember, what makes your house a home.

Check out all the Home Sweet Home posts here on the blog.

Biblical Brothers

 Peter, James and John ... they may be more well known from the bible, but they were also brothers of one of our ancestors (Archibald, great-grandfather to Dad/LaMar). 

The trio would have been brothers to Lucille's grandfather. So Lucille's "grand-uncles". 

It's her handwriting, and her album where we found the photo. 

Here's a couple snags from Family Search ... tracing back the relationship.

For the Westra Six Siblings - the men would be "2nd Great-GrandUncles"

"2nd Great" is the same thing as "Great-Great" ... two "Greats"

Boy, the word "Great" looks weird when I see it so often!

For the grandkid generation - they would be "3rd Great-GrandUncles"

And LaMar's Great-Grand Uncles.

Interesting that Peter's middle name is ... Peters.

John's middle name is MacFarlane ... which is also Archibald's middle name.

McFarlane was their mother's maiden name. 

10 siblings. Archibald was third, the first son.

Peter, John and James were 7th, 8th and 9th.

About 10 years between Archibald and Peter.

And just 2-3 years between the births of the three biblical boys.

Easter 2021

Covid continued, and there wasn't really any talk of resuming the annual Westra Easter gathering, which is not to say there wasn't some family get-together. The Jensen family welcomed Shane and Alicia's family for the Easter holiday, which took place on April 4 in 2021. It coincided with Conference weekend.

Here's a little picture peek at some of the fun they had ...

From a candy tasting, to coloring eggs, to overflowing Easter baskets ...

Wendy has more on her blog. Easter 2021.

Chris's crew had a hunt ...

He shared pictures in dropbox.

I'm assuming there will be pictures next year from Scott's family, as it will be little Lettie's first Easter in 2022. Surprisingly, Derek didn't seem to have any photos of their Easter celebration. The Blackham's pulled out the fluffy ears, filled up the Easter buckets, and made some yummy food for their celebration.

Happy Easter!

Tiny Dancers

 Mini Margie

Mom/Margie's memories from these photos ... I was maybe around age 7–9, just a guess.  In front of our house on 4568 Boxelder St.  Nelva and I both took dance lessons for a few years.  I took tap dancing, ballet, and toe dancing (now they call it "Pointe").  

Naughty Nelva

This would have been in 1949/1950.

Dancing Sisters!

In the News ...

... and here's a picture of Margie's group. 

A little older than in first few pictures. 

Mom/Margie is on the back row, second from the left.

Here's a few of Mom/Margie's memories inspired by these photos ...

Mother didn't sew, so my Aunt Neva made all our costumes. It seems like Mother was at one of our dance recitals in an auditorium somewhere when Mother was called out and told that her sister, my aunt Neva Dye, had been accidentally shot in the leg by her young son, my cousin Kelly.

I still remember how I would take the bus alone on State Street from our Murray home to the dance studio in Midvale or Sandy, past that cement bridge thing over the road. In those days, you would drop the fare/coins into a little clear plastic thing by the driver. When I went to get off, the driver said I owed ____ cents more. I told him I had put all my money in when I got on. I guess you paid so much for a certain distance and then paid the rest if you went further (kind of like the commuter lanes now). Funny how you can remember those scary times as a child, for 60+ years!

While Wendy and Jeni were heavily involved in singing and musical theater, neither was really a "dancer" per se. The girls would choreograph some numbers to Xanadu which they would roller-skate to in the unfinished basement. The Wonderful Westra Sisters! Both girls would be part of a baton brigade, marching in parades (Twirly Girls). Jen would be in a little song and dance group called Carousel Kids, and both Wendy and Jen would be in song/dance groups in college (Jen - LD Singers). There were roadshows and other performances too - but no "just dance" (although Jen would learn to tap for her senior year production of 42nd Street ... even though she was the ONE character in the show that didn't dance.)

... a second set of sisters!

There are some dancers among the grandgirls ...

Aniston in 2013 and 2016. Rella in 2016 and 2020. 

Jenna in 2016 and 2018. Jaiden in 2016 and 2018.

... and Janika in 2003.

I'd already created the grandgirl collage above when I did a "dance" search in Dropbox and found these additional photos of little Janny.  

Little girls in dance costumes ...

The years may change, but the costumes are always cute.

... and today (2021).

 

A Plethora of Poetry

There have been quite a few poems featured here on the blog (check out the Poetry label for more) but no one has been as prolific with poems as Chris! He's written 100+ poems for his ProsperityPoems website. Check it out! Here's just a peek ...

Poem Images created using "Stencil"  

and you can also check out Unsplash for more royalty free pictures.