Submitted for the blog by Linda

(this is what I am doing during this pandemic: reading journals!

Oct 8, 1994

 

“Grandma B has been moved in with Aunt Katy for some months now.  That was okay for her and the rest of us.  After all, she’s 97 years old.  The plan now is to burn her house down.  That isn’t necessarily all right with all of us even though we realize it will be done (right now the fire dept is using it for smoke training- we haven’t had enough rain to be okay to set it).  Pat decided we should have a parting picnic so this day those that could, gathered and remembered the old house.  It was good for us to be able to say good bye- I’ll still probably cry when it actually happens as I’ve already been doing that and feel like it now as I write this.

 

What I remember:  the spots we picked for hiding- all the cupboards in the house, the great playhouse in the front yard (floors soaked with gas and diesel!), sliding down the cellar door and getting a huge sliver in my backside and the prune tree (Larry would call it a plum).  Others remember the candy Grandpa Baker had in his pockets.  I remember him rolling his cigarettes with tobacco and sheets of paper.  (I didn’t mention that at the party!).  Sarah remembered the game “No Bears out Tonight!”  It must have been our own made up one. (it was tag).  We remembered all the haying, the silage and molasses, silo, the picking berries and the family.  We don’t really realize the uniqueness of our heritage until we sit and talk about it.  I hope I’ll be able to convey to our boys just how important family is.”

 A Christmas note from Linda

As I consider writing a Christmas letter, I have to take into account the year is 2020.  What can we say?  I know I’ve had lots of time to reflect- I found my journals from 1980 and on.  I wrote notes to our 3 sons for each year, so far to 1994.  Whether they liked the notes or not, I know I had some good laughs and great memories.

 

I could write about what we’ve missed.  I love volunteering with many organizations - that ended in March.  We love birthday parties with our grandkids-that didn’t happen.  On the positive side- Larry and I have had lots of time together.  We got to do some fishing and caught some salmon.  We had some beach vacations including time with some of our kids.  We celebrated our 47^th anniversary- that’s an accomplishment!  We remain healthy according to our annual Doctor check-ups.

 

We had our share of small mishaps that didn’t really come close to what some of our friends and church families have gone through…2020!!! Prayers continue to go up.  Larry spent a week fighting a wildfire in the Springfield area.  That was a very grueling task.  Recovery for all is hard. More prayers.

 

I try to walk everyday and my path takes me by our Homestead barn that has the “1920 Century Farm” sign on it.  The Baker Family has been waiting for that achievement for some time- thinking after 100 years celebrations would be in order, but then 2020!  I truly feel blessed living on “the hill” my whole life.  I have thankful thoughts and gratitude to our grandparents and parents for their insightfulness to have a Homestead starting in 1920.  Our kids and grandkids can roam and run for years to come.  Our kids are healthy and still working.  More blessings!

 

We will trust our Lord to continue to take care of us and look forward to 2021.  How bad can it be??   That’s probably a good question NOT TO ASK!!!

May God Bless you

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Love to you

 

Larry and Linda xoxoxoxo