happiness

Memories of Grandma’s 80th (6) (FGK 207)

Kathy’s middle of the night walk to Grandma’s was a legend when we were kids – told so many times with giggles each time. We all thought it was hilarious that she got up in the middle of the night and headed to Grandma’s for tea. I had totally forgotten the story until I read it here. Who else is craving Grandma’s special cake??

God blessed us with a wonderful person who both loves us and is loved by all

Regardless of the situation, Grandma is always there to help in any way that she can

Always busy in her garden, adding to the beauty of the ranch

Never failing to comfort and console me whatever the problem or situation is

Driving grandkids to and from is something that we will never be able to repay

Making chewy ginger snaps and my favourite cake are things that favourably haunt me

A friend to me you’ll always be. I love you very much. Happy 80th birthday to a special person that means a lot to me.

I’m sorry I couldn’t be with y’all on this happy day. Texas wishes you the happiest birthday ever

Love, Cherie

Cherie riding side saddle in our great-grandmother Sophia’s saddle in the Stampede Parade

Grandma, Happy 80th Birthday!

I have so many fond memories of our times together it’s hard to know where to start. You were always my favourite, you were the one who inspired me to learn to cook. I remember sleeping over in the “junk room” and for breakfast we’d make porridge and melt cheese for our toast (you even bought me my own frying pan!!)

There were also the many teatimes when we made pull taffy and our “favourite cake”. Teatime was always an exciting time in your kitchen. It was a sweet tooth’s dream! You had every sort of good imaginable! Then there would be the excitement of getting down to the bottom of our cups and having our fortunes read – you even took time to teach me how to do it. From what I am told, I enjoyed teatime so much that when I was young I came to visit at 4:00 in the morning and my attempts failed as Barry Davis found me and took me home.

Another exciting event at your house was when we all went out with our brown grocery bagels and picked what seemed to be millions of peas. I don’t know how many peas you would have after the pick because we kids would pick one and eat two – not very good odds.

Grandma, to this day you still inspire me – who else at the age of eighty winds a beauty contest? I hope that if I get to be your age I will be as beautiful and full of energy as you are.

I love you, Kathy.

Maybe Michelle lying down? I’m in the beautiful yellow snow suit (and I think we still have my red hat), not sure who is on Grandma’s knee – Jen and maybe Ryan? Kathy beside Grandma

happiness

Memories of Grandma’s 80th (5) (FGK 206)

Mom

It seems like it’s been a long time, almost forever. But then when one really thinks about it the whole affair has flashed by so incredibly fast. You had I have seen a lot happen and we sure missed out on a few things too. It seems as though when ever there was work to be done you were never too far. When fun and happiness were the order of the day you also were there. However, when I look back on it you were, in every case, the one making the greatest contribution to everyone else’s happiness and comfort.

Isn’t it remarkable the changes you and I have witnessed in our short span together. Remember what kind of world we lived in that day in November 1936 when you (and I) sat helpless in an old blue car, jammed in a burning hay slide with your world all on fire. Since then World War 2 and it’s uncertainties like no sugar for candy, no metal for Tory, and no Japanese oranges for Christmas.

Remember the horses, Old Spades, Captain, Old Buck, the Shetland pony, Pinkey, Cope, Shannon, Dusty, Daphne, Slim, Old Gus and of course Clipper the stake race horse. Remember the Clydesdales Pat, Shorty, Dick, Walley, Ben, and many more. Flora and Andy were exceptions as percherons while nobody ever knew what Old Toots was.

My memories with you are bright summer days, bumble bees and flowers, grass too long for the mower, toys – wagons – dolls – wire – you name it hidden in the yard for Dad’s July 1st mowing exercise. Remember looking all over for turkey eggs, looking for turkeys, setting hens, coyotes, and hailstorms. You were the best pie maker this country will ever have. I don’t know how you did all the things there were to do in those days. I do know we never missed a meal, all 15 of us. Our laundry was always done on time and you also found time to be a loving, comfy mother to all including the hired help.

You were quite a bronc buster in your day. Remember Chick! A horse few would ride. Moccasin telegraph told of trouble at Little Jumping Pound School and Chick, being the only horse isn’t eh barn because nobody could ride him, found himself going lickety split down the bank and across the creek headed west towards the school whether he liked it or not.

You have never stopped in your efforts to us all Mom. When one looks at the changes in 80 years, nothing has changed under the sun. Wars, floods, fast horses or fast cars, apple pie, picking berries. Moms and kids will never change because if they do all will be lost.

Thanks Mom for all the years. We wish you a well deserved happy birthday. 80 years, another 80 years and all will be the same under the sun thanks to moms like you.

Love you much,

Marshall.

happiness

Memories of Grandma’s 80th (4) (FGK 205)

My Grandma is a very special person, but more than just a person whom I love very much, she is also someone I greatly admire. The building of the Copithorne family and their ranch would not have been as successful without her. She worked so hard for so many years and yet has always kept a beautiful grace and style.

My husband Keith and I are very proud to be her granddaughter and grandson in law

Keith and Betty Godkin

Dear Grandma Copithorne

I want to give you this poem:

I like my Grandma, she is nice, she’ll always love ya, more than twice

I like my Grandma, she is special and great, and for my Grandma, I’ll open my heart’s gate

Love Jim

My most memorable time with Grandma was when I stayed at her place before I left for England. I really enjoyed our long talks. Grandma has always beeen very encouraging and supportive of me in the ministries God has led me into. I really appreciate her many prayers, encouragement, and letters. Thank you so very much Grandma!

Love, Lynn

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Memories of Grandma’s 80th 3 (FGK 204)

Dear Grandma

There are lots of memories I could talk about with you – such as listening to the Bambi record over and over, going to movies etc. But the most memorable was our trip to Vancouver Island seven years ago. What an adventure! Looking back, some things were kind of funny – such as the flat timer on our rented car – some were serious. I will never forget our conversations because they changed how I looked at things. Your opinions on how important motherhood is, the sanctity of marriage, and your love and respect for grandpa have made a lasting impression. It made me respect your generation for the solid rock of values on which they built this society. Thank you grandma for being you!

Love Dixie

Dear Grandma Copithorne

I guess that as an “In-law”, I haven’t been around long enough to have the kind of memories of our times together like Dixie has. But you have made many good impressions on me.

After meeting you the first time, I left realizing that I had met a real “lady”, a person with real manners and gracious attitude, that folks my age don’t have.

Some of my impressions are humorous too, like finding out at my engagement party with Dixie, that you had been sure to “check me out” with my high school teacher, Gordon Davies. You didn’t want your granddaughter to marry any “riff-raff”. I hope I passed the test.

And the time you lent us the use of your ranch house for our honeymoon, and leapt it a secret from Marshall. Marshall would have given us a good chivarce , but you kept it under your hat!

But my best impression of you is second hand. It comes from seeing the love and respect that my wife, Dixie, has for you and also believing that you share our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

With love and respect

Art Bird.

happiness

Memories of Grandma’s 80th (FGK 203)

I have to admit, most of these letters make me a little weepy in the eyes. Grandma was kind of the glue that held us all together -and the fact that we are still close all these years after she has been gone I think speaks to the kind of family she and Grandpa created. Their faith was central to their lives, and it was something that was passed onto all of us in one way or another.

The most significant experience and influence my mother gave me was her desire to teach me about the Lord. This was important to her and because it was important to her it was important to me as a small child. From my earliest memories I remember reading the Bible stories from colourful Sunday School papers and it was her who taught me that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. Even though I deserved to be punished, Jesus bore my punishment for me. I was an adult before I accepted this salvation but my other pointed me in the right direction for which I am eternally grateful.

I had to have children of my own before I could fully appreciate my mother. I couldn’t have been raised in a better home.

All my love, Sheila.

Grandma (protecting her hair) and Sheila

To my Favourite Mother in Law

Even though you are the only Mother-in-law I’ve ever had, you are a favourite with me.

It seems we very seldom express the way we feel about people, and sometimes it is easier to write it than to say it, but I do so very much appreciate the good relationship we have had over the years. I think back to when I first met Sheila and stayed at your place. You made a very nervous young man feel at home, and I enjoyed the good meals, the card parties, and just the good visits we had with you and dad and all of the family. That big kitchen at the ranch was a place of informal family gatherings and good fellowship.

Christmas has always been a special time when we gather as a family, and I must admit I always look forward to your gift. Your taste in shirts is really something.

Well, on this special occasion of your eightieth birthday, I wish for you that it will be a special and wonderful day. May the Lord continue to bless you with good health, good times, love and peace.

Your loving son-in-law, Ted

happiness

Memories of Grandma’s 80th (FGK 202)

I know… I said I was done. But this house has ways of throwing things in my path for me to have a look at. Last night I was standing in my boy’s room looking for a photo of grandma (his bookshelf holds our family photos) and I noticed a couple of albums kind of stuck off to the side. A couple of very old photo albums of Grandma’s and one that holds a bunch of memories the family put together for Grandma’s 80th. Her children, their spouses, and all us grandkids (plus two spouses), and a couple of great grandkids wrote out our memories of Grandma. Sharing them seems like a really nice way to honour a woman who has meant so much to us all.

I’m not sure where the “Profile of a Senior” came from – when I googled it I found a couple of copies of it written elsewhere – no idea where to credit it though. Grandma turned 80 on October 4, 1988 and as with most things, some of it aged well, some of it didn’t (pretty sure the “Coke” of their time had actual cocaine in it so….)

Profile of a Senior

Who is a senior citizen? What is one?

A senior citizen is one who was here before the pill and the population explosion. We were here before television, penicillin, polio shots, antibiotics, and frisbees. Before frozen food, nylon, dacron, xerox, Kinsey, radar, fluorescent lights, credit cards and ballpoint pens. For us, time sharing meant togetherness not computers; a chip meant a piece of wood, hardware meant hard work and software wasn’t even a word. Co-Ed’s never wore slacks, we were before pantyhose and drip-dry clothes, before ice makers and dishwashers, clothes dryers, freezers and electric blankets. Before Hawaii had Alaska became states. Before men wore long hair and earrings and women wore tuxedos.

We were before Leonard Bernstein, yogurt, Ann Landers, plastic, the 40 hour week and the minimum wage. We got married first and then lived together. How quaint can one be?

Closets were for clothes, not for coming out of, bunnies were small rabbits and rabbits were not Volkswagens. We were before Grandma Moses and Frank Sinatra and cup sizing for bras. Girls wore Peter Pan collars and thought cleavage was something butchers did. We were before Batman, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and Snoopy. before DDT, vitamin pills, disposable diapers, QE one, Jeeps, the Jefferson memorial, and pizza. Cheerios, instants coffee, decaffeinated anything, and McDonald’s were unheard of. We thought fast food was what you ate during Lent. We were before Boy George, J.D. Salinger, and Chiquita banana. Before FM radios, tape recorders, electric typewriters, word processors, Muzak, electronic music, disco dancing – and that’s not all that bad!!

In our day, cigarette smoking was fashionable, grass was for mowing, coke was a refreshing drink, and pot was something you cooked in. If we’d been asked to explain CIA, Ms, NATO, UFO, NFL, ERA, or IUD, we would have said alphabet soup.

We are today’s senior citizens, a hardy bunch when you think of how our wold has changed and the adjustments we have had to make!!

Grandma on Captain, me on Chubby (on loan from Uncle Clarence and family – Chubby raised their children and then I was lucky enough to have him for a brief time. I think he was in his 30s here)

Grandma and Grandpa, and (I think) Gillian and Ryan

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A History in Photos 44 (FGK 201)

This is the end of the photos. Every time I’ve said I’m done something else has shown up in an unexpected place – so we shall see! There is still a freezer full of mom’s treasures from when she went away to school to sort through – but that will be done first with my sister. I’ve sure enjoyed sharing this with everyone! Who knows what will be next! Oh wait- I know – I’m putting this together into a book! Enjoy…

Donald, Marjorie, Roy, Joanne, Susan, and Wendy Copithorne. Clarence and Irene’s family.

Grandma and I think her friend Jean McKenzie-Grieves

Who knew Grandma went camping!! Not just a hard working ranch wife or a super glam downtown woman, or the prayerful powerhouse behind mom recovering. Edna Copithorne camping on a fishing trip with Percy

This photo was in with some of the letters to mom from the hospital: this was taken the day I picked up your new skirt at Daytons. Sept 1958. Met Heather Scott there.

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A History in Photos 43 (FGK 200)

Today marks the 200th instalment of From Grandma’s Kitchen. I had no idea last year that this would become what it has – I have loved exploring the history of our family and the area. I figured what better way to celebrate 200 posts than to look at old wedding photos! Young couples so full of love and hope for the future ❤️

Grandma and Grandpa (Edna and Percy Copithorne)

Harvey and Margaret Buckley’s wedding. Left to right: ?, Sheila Burger, Clarence Buckley, Harvey Buckley, Margaret Buckley, Lawrence Copithorne, Ruth Patterson, Brian Lepard, ?

Jim and Margaret Syme. Circle S Ranch. Dog Creek BC

Jean and George McKenzie-Grieves married. Percy and Edna at dance? With Miriam Allan.

When I get some new pictures of the cart? Cake? I will send you one. Jean and Geo McKenzie-Grieves wedding. Percy and Edna and Miriam Allan

Now Mrs Bud Williams and am proud of it too (I love this)

I think this is Jean and George McKenzie-Grieves

happiness

A History in Photos 42 (FGK 199)

Street photography!! I think they used to take photos on Stephen Avenue? I know I’ve been told all about it but now it’s kind of foggy. Anyway – here’s grandma all dolled up.