The Sattvic Life

The next couple of days are of Grandpa (Percy Copithorne). I have such great memories of Grandpa, the fact that I was only 7 when he died and I have so many (relatively speaking) memories of going on adventures with him tells me that he must have spent a lot of time with us.

I’m assuming this was when Grandma and Grandpa went to Africa

Margie Ramsay, Percy Copithorne, Maria Nicoll (I see the painting we discussed a few days ago in the background. I wonder if there are two copies or if that one somehow migrated back here? Uncle Ted mentioned it was a Roland Gissing and I remember mom saying that as well. It shows up one more time in today’s photos too)

Aileen, Sheila, Margie, and Margaret on Percy 1949

Percy Copithorne signing a guest book for a 21st birthday party at Clarence Copithorne’s

Marshall Copithorne, Richard Copithorne, Frank Copithorne, Percy Copithorne, Louis Copithorne, Don McKinnon, Harry Nicoll. (Fishing party)

Margie, Edna, Percy. I’m guessing the baby is Dixie? (And the painting one more time – it seems as though it migrated around a lot. It’s in a different spot here.)

Left to Right: Bill Piper, Kenneth Ebenezer (?) Percy Copithorne, Marshall Copithorne, at breakfast April 1964. Somehow when Grandma said she’d disliked the small window on the south end of the kitchen I had thought they’d replaced it with the stained glass right away – but here it is with the old regular window in 1964. What an improvement the stained glass window makes to this room!! That bone painting above the door was done by Grandma and hung there until my sister inherited it and now it hangs in her house.

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A History in Photos 11 (FGK 168)

January 17, 2022Melissaalberta, calgary, cochrane, family, grandparents, history, home, mom, photography, photos, polio, ranch Leave a comment

I loved it when the house looked like this.

Sheila and Margie copithorne and old Buck

Percy and Edna Copithorne at May _____ home after catching a salmon off Victoria

Left to right: David Copithorne, Lawrence Copithorne, Clarence Buckley, Sheila Copithorne, baby??, Harvey Buckley, Marshall Copithorne, Margie Copithorne, Gordon Davies.

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A History in Photos 9 (FGK 166)

January 15, 2022Melissaalberta, calgary, cats, cochrane, dogs, family, grandparents, history, photography, photos, ranch Leave a comment

Some of the most important members of the family – the pets of days gone by

Old Buster our first dog and we called him Buster

Buster at Copithorne’s May 1964 (this must be at least Buster II – and they had a Buster when I was a child who must have been at least Buster III who was one of the best dogs)

Hatching turkey eggs (ok these aren’t pets but they’re here for lack of a better spot)

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A History in Photos 8 (FGK 165)

January 14, 2022Melissaalberta, bear, calgary, cochrane, family, grandparents, history, home, horses, photography, photos, pioneer, ranch, settlers Leave a comment

Grandpa riding in the Stampede Parade. I believe he’s riding Toots who absolutely terrified me as a child. Not only was she gigantic but she was fiercely protective of my horse and one time charged me and chased me away while I was out alone in the field catching my horse – I would have been maybe 6 or so. I just remember flaring nostrils and legs coming at me, and then she stopped inches away from me, put her head to my face and snorted loudly. I booked it back home crying. Got very little sympathy too haha

Phyllis Strutt 1942. She is a relative of Grandmas on the Brown side I believe

Percy and Edna Copithorne home and pets. On the left you can see the lean to kitchen grandma described in her memories.

Think of the quality of cameras back in the day and then consider how close the photographer must have been to these bears.

We are about to discover the answer to the age old question “does a bear poop in the woods?”

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A History In Photos 1 (FGK 158)

January 4, 2022Melissaalberta, calgary, cochrane, family, grandparents, history, home, old photos, photos, pioneer, ranch, settlers 1 Comment

I am starting a series called “A History in Photos”. I found this box of old photos of Grandma’s in my closet a couple of years ago. Some of them are labeled and some are not, so some days we will get to play “who are these people?” And hopefully y’all can help me out. I will experiment with some better lighting- the photos are in better shape than the scanning shows. Anyway, here we go!!

Edited to add: it seems taking a photo works better than scanning the photos so I’ve included those. And I’ve had some help from a cousin deciphering grandma’s handwriting which is greatly appreciated!!