Cherished Family Stories for Our Cherished Children: A Celebration of One American Family’s History Through Its Stories

By Mary Jane Bolin

Inspired by her mother’s numerous tales of growing up in Nebraska during the Depression, and as her life as a young bride and as a nurse, Mary Jane began compiling these anecdotes years ago when she began to realize their significance to her family’s history. With the birth of nieces and nephews and the death of her beloved mother came the realization that life does not last forever and the imperative to preserve these family treasures became even greater. With generous and enthusiastic contributions of photos, facts, details and insights, family members enhanced these stories and provided depth and luster to this glimpse into an American family descended from immigrants. Although it is typical in many ways, this family is unique – as perhaps all families are unique – and the author’s gratitude to her parents, her sister and each of her relatives is boundless.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664108332

Book preview

Copyright © 2022 by Mary Jane Bolin. 826838

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021919814

Rev. date: 09/09/2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dedication

1 Our Mother & Her Enduring Legacy

2 My Parents, Howard Bolin & Mary Ruther Bolin

3 Daddy’s Families: The Danboms & The Bolins

4 Searching for our Bolin Family

5 Mother’s Families: The Goeddes & The Ruthers

6 At Home with Grandma & Grandpa Bolin & Dear Jake

7 On the Farm with Grandma Annie, Skippy & Lucky

8 Our very interesting Aunts & Uncles

9 More about our Mother, also known as Meme

10 Our Memorable Christmas Celebrations

11 My First Home & My Best Teacher

12 My New Little Baby Sister, Barbara Ann Bolin

13 Growing Up & Learning about the World

14 Snowbound on the Farm: The Great Blizzard of 1948 & 1949

15 A Very Difficult Time for Mother, Daddy, Barbara & Me

16 These Nests were Best: My Favorite Family Homes

17 Fun & Memorable Times in Denver with Meme

18 Mother’s Special Gift to Us: A Keen Sense of Wanderlust

19 Our Family’s Love Affair with Dogs & Other Animals

20 A Lovely & Unforgettable Lesson

A Letter to Family & Friends

List of Illlustrations / Photos

LIST OF ILLLUSTRATIONS / PHOTOS

Mary Irene Drucilla Ruther Bolin In polka dot dress, approximately 1932 / fifteen years of age

Poky Little Puppy

Helen’s Babies

Grandma Ruther and Little Me on the farm at Inman, Nebraska, Appx. 1946

Barbara Bolin - O’Donnell, Allie Schuck, Mimi O’Donnell-Barrera, Aidan Schuck

Mother (Mary) & Daddy (Howard) in front of 3410 California Street with Daddy’s 1937 Packard, appx. 1940.

George (standing), Howard (left) & Richard (right) – the three Bolin boys, 1919

Daddy with his box car racer, his dog (before Jake), and brother Rick. Appx. 1934.

Henry Yates School in Omaha, where, in the 1930s, the three Bolin Boys Attended School, and, Where, in 1947, I Attended Kindergarten.

Young Daddy (on left) and Rick (note the sneakers!), appx. 1924.

My Daddy as a Teenager. Can you find him in this class picture?

Omaha Tech Code of Ethics

Omaha Tech

Daddy’s High School Graduation Picture. 1938.

Daddy, standing, with Jake in Grandpa Bolin’s car. Appx. 1937.

Daddy with his Panel Truck & Grandma Ruther’s dog, Lucky, on the farm in Inman. Appx. 1946.

A television like the one in Daddy’s shop window (note the rabbit ears antenna on top).

Mary Irene Ruther Bolin’s birthplace, Butte, Nebraska

Meme in a cherry tree on farm in Butte, Nebraska. 1920.

Meme at work, feeding chickens on the farm in Butte. 1921.

Catholic School on lid of memento china box.

Old postcard showing Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School in Butte.

Inman School, Grades 5-6. 1927

Mary with her classmates in the Inman school. 1930

Mary Irene Drucilla Ruther, 1935.

The town of Inman, Nebraska during a disastrous flood in 1935.

Mary’s & Uncle Jim’s High School Graduation Class, 1937

This poignant photograph by Dorothea Lange, a well-known photographer during the Great Depression, is called Migrant Mother.

Grandpa Bolin’s parents

Young Grandma Bolin with big bow in her hair.

Grandma Bolin (on right) and her much-loved stepsister, Erika

Theodore Luther Danbom

Anders Normany Danbom

Anders Normany Normie Danbom, Grandma Bolin’s brother at Lake Okoboji, Iowa where he ran a boatyard and small resort. Appx. 1940.

Danbom’s Boat Liveries Post Card. 1939.

Mary Irene Ruther Bolin & Howard Bolin at Danbom’s Resort, Lake Okoboji, Iowa. Appx. 1941.

Mary Irene Ruther Bolin at Lake Okoboji, Iowa. Appx. 1941.

Me in my Yacht at Lake Okoboji, Iowa! 1945.

Grandma & Grandpa Bolin by pink rosebush at 3410 California Street, Omaha. Appx. 1943.

Grandma Bolin’s Cousin, Ernest Danbom. (1877-1912)

The RMS Titanic. (May 31, 1911-April 15, 1912)

Ernest Danbom, His Wife and Child. All three perished on the RMS Titanic April 15, 1912.

Photo of the bon voyage farewell party for Danbom family hosted by Anders Andersson and his family for their extended family and friends. It was taken on April 5,1912, at Kisa, Sweden just prior to Ernest, his wife and child departing on the RMS Titanic.

Photo of Ernest Danbom’s Grave Marker at Mamrelund Cemetery.

Grandma Veda Bolin fishing on Lake Okoboji. As always, she dressed to the 9s with lovely frock and white heels! Photo was undoubtedly taken by Grandpa Bolin, Date unknown.

Set of Pictures of Grandpa in funny hats. Date unknown.

Grandpa shaving his friend. Date/location unknown.

1116 Jackson Street, Omaha, NE Site of Grandpa Bolin’s second machine shop

Captain Eddie Rickenbacker. 1919.

Bogard’s Pharmacy was located at 3³rd & California Streets.

3410 California Street, Omaha

Grandpa and his three boys (from top): George, Howard, Richard

Map of Sweden / Gotland

The Bolin Family taken in Oakland, Nebraska in 1915

Manda Bolin Carlson, Sister of Clarence George Bolin, et. al. Cropped from 1915 Family Portrait.

Sanford Richard Carlson, Son of Manda and Oscar Carlson. Appx. 1916.

Emma Bolin, Sister of Clarence G. Bolin, et. al. Appx. 1908.

Clarence George Bolin.

Dean as a lovely young girl. Appx. 1905.

Dean as an older woman with a grey streak in her hair

Cat Resting on Stove

Margaret Setterquist and her much-loved dog, Friday. Neighbors of Grandma and Grandpa Bolin’s in Omaha,

Margaret Setterquist as a young child. 1902

My letter to Bolins living in the Midwest.

Andrew W. Bolin in Washington DC at the World War II Memorial during his visit to D.C. in 2014

Andrew W. Bolin while serving in the U.S. Navy. 1952.

A Wonderful First Meeting with Flora, Andy and their family in Grand Island in 2009.

Andy Bolin’s farm – aerial view. Sent as a Christmas card.

Map of Baden-Wurttemberg and Munich

Goedde Family Portrait. Appx. 1900.

Tony (Anton) Goedde.

Cockleburs

Grandma & Grandpa Ruther’s wedding picture

Grandma Ruther wedding headshot

Grandpa Ruther wedding headshot

John Rudolf Ruther, 1927. Butte, Nebraska.

Grandma Annie Ruther. Date?

Grandma Annie on the farm in Inman, Nebraska with three of her grandchildren

Silk embroidered windmill scene with ducks which Grandma Ruther made for Meme

Going on Sixteen

Mary, wearing the beautiful gold bracelet which was given to her by her aunt, Mary Goedde

Grandma Ruther’s death notice in local newspaper

Howard Bolin as a cowboy on the steps of 3410 California Street, Omaha. 1938.

Golden Spike Days Poster. 1938.

Peonies

Daddy’s wonderful dog JAKE on the lawn at 3410 California Street (taken by Grandpa Bolin).

Daddy’s dog JAKE keeping watch out of Grandma and Grandpa’s bedroom window

Dear Jake and Me, 1944

Karen Bolin and Jake

Special Delivery Grandpa Bolin’s award-winning photo of Jake ascending steps to front porch of their home at 3410 California Street.

Grandpa Bolin napping with Jake

Grandma Bolin napping with Jake

Grandma’s new house at 3138 North 5⁴th Street, Benson.

Barb, Daddy & Me in front of Grandma’s new house. Summer, 1959.

Brass lamp which Grandpa made, probably around 1930.

Cousins Bobby Allan, Bobby Leo and Me taken by Aunt Agnes Knoell, 1947.

Bobby Leo & Me Playing with Grandma’s Kittens, August, 1946.

Bobby Leo & Me Feeding Grandma’s Chickens, Summer, 1945.

A very fancy outhouse! Our cousin, Mark Bolin (Flora and Andy’s son), had this built and installed on the family farm after the horrible tornado in 2011 which leveled their home and all buildings on the property.

Windmill on the Nebraska Plains at sunset!

Braids Like the Ones Grandma Annie Made

Sunset

Farm with growing veggies

Homemade jelly!

On the Farm. Eleanor & Bob Ruther, Grandma Annie, Lucille & Jim Ruther, John Ruther.

The Bolin twins as toddlers 1919. Richard on left, Howard on right.

From left: Daddy’s Cousin, Dana Danbom, Richard, Daddy’s dog, Jake peering out of window of Grandpa’s car and dear Daddy.

George Bolin (1915-1933)

John Ruther, Jr. and his hawk car.

Sister and Brother – Mary Ruther Bolin and John Ruther on John Ruther’s farm, Summer 1979.

Effie Ruth, John Ruther’s First Wife. 1921

George & Mildred Ruther, Appx. 1944.

Ruther tombstone: Effie, Leo, George, Mildred. Appx. 1985.

Anna Ruther & Joseph Schulte’s Portrait.

Bernadine Schulte’s & Ernie DiCroce’s wedding. St. Magdalene’s Church in Edgewater, CO. 1956.

Anna, Joseph and Anna Marie with Storz Brewing Company car in Omaha.

Regina Cynthia Ruther. Appx. 1935.

Esther Ruther Jansen. 1949.

Esther in her nurse’s uniform. 1951.

Esther Ruther and Leo Jansen’s Wedding with Mother (age 21) as maid of honor. April 15, 1939.

Drucilla Cartoon, GREENWICH TIME, August 18, 1989.

Communion / Confirmation, 1931. Mary, Jerome, Agnes Ruther (seated)

Communion / Confirmation Certificate, 1931.

Mary, Regina and Esther. Appx. 1934

Agnes, Esther and Mary Ruther. Appx. 1936.

Arianne and Peepers when she came to spend a few days with me in my dorm at Columbia University. Aren’t they cute together? 1972.

Wedding of Jerome (Jim) and Lucille Ruther. 1944.

Meme and her little sister, Agnes. 1926.

Agnes, age 15, youngest of the Ruther children. 1936.

Meme and Arianne when she was just a baby. 1970.

Meme, John & Baby in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Summer, 1984.

Embroidered picture from Meme to Me: Plan your work…

St. Joseph’s Hospital, Omaha

Anna Marie and Bernie Schulte, 1939

Official portrait of Mother when she and Daddy became engaged

Article which appeared in the OMAHA WORLD HERALD announcing Mother and Daddy’s engagement along with Meme’s photo which accompanied the article.

Portrait of Meme in her nurse’s uniform. Appx. 1954.

Pin certifying Mother as a graduate of St. Anthony’s nursing program.

Gold pins certifying Mother as a graduate of St. Anthony’s School of Nursing

Becker’s Porch, Norfolk; Barbara (cute legs!) and MJ with my first piano book. 1951

Mount St. Gertrude Academy, Boulder, Colorado

Christmas: Cousin Karen (L), me (R), Ducky & Teddy. 1944

Skippy and Me, at home, 3515 California Street with our Christmas tree. 1944.

Grandma’s china pattern is called Athena and made by Noritaki. Barbara now has this set.

Grandma’s silver flatware made by Gorham which she gave to Mary Jane.

Swedish Oostakaka

Arianne opening Christmas gifts; Meme in her jester suit. 1971.

Arianne snuggling with Meme! 1972.

Hi Grandma! Little John looking at smiling Meme. 1976.

Mother in Red Turtleneck Sweater with John O’Donnell, 1976.

I love you! Baby John gazing at Meme. 1976.

Mother and John opening Christmas gifts. 1979.

3515 California Street, Omaha, Nebraska, photo taken 1994.

Black Satin Urn with Wooden Fruit and small photo of Mimi O’Donnell

Immanuel Hospital where I was born, November 9, 1943

That’s me, Baby Mary Jane, seated with my Arms Stretched Out. 1944.

Mother, Daddy and Little Me in our backyard at 3515 California Street. 1944

3515 California Street being restored after the 1915 tornado, long before we moved in!

Skippy and me in our backyard at 3515 California Street. Mother and Daddy hitched Skippy up to my sled so he could pull me through the snow.

Hollyhock Princess.

Six little girl friends at my birthday party. 1947

My birthday party with adults. 1947

Daddy’s Wing-Tipped Shoes

Juke Box

New Year’s Eve Party in our Basement with Guests and Pinball Machine, 1946

Two Ryan kids and me in our backyard. 1944

Aunt Agnes & Me Getting Ready to go Shopping in Town, Star, Nebraska. 1947

Me holding my new baby sister, Barbara, in our rocking chair. Backyard at 3515 California Street, Omaha. 1947.

Barb & Me on a blanket in a Photo taken by Grandpa Bolin. 1948

Barb with a Diaper on Her Head taken by Grandpa Bolin. 1948

Barb proving to be a challenging subject for the photographer. 1949.

Chocolate Malt

Sandbox

Union Station, Omaha

Steam Engine in Snowstorm

Person on Train Tracks with High Snow

Farmhouse Covered with Snow; Windmill on Right

Man Retrieving Much-Needed Supplies from Rescue Plane

Man Coaxing Cow Through Narrow Path with Snow Banked on Both Side!

Backyard of 3515 California Street.

Barbara & Me in our Easter Finery in Our Backyard at 3515 California Street. 1948

3410 California Street, the home which Grandpa built for Grandma when they married in 1914.

3410 California Street, Omaha. Grandpa Bolin in his workshop behind their home.

Grandma Ruther’s farm

1574 South Columbine Street front façade with Snow

1574 South Columbine Street front façade in sunshine, Denver, Colorado

417 Riverside Drive, New York, New York 10025

Mohawk Apartments, Norfolk, Nebraska

In the mountain pavilion with Johnny where we broiled our steaks and enjoyed dinner. 1952

Barbara & Me, having fun with Johnny Krepatsky in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. 1952

Letter from Mother to Me & Barbara Describing: My Upcoming Birthday Celebration. 1951.

Barb & Leon Becker – her first boyfriend, very cute!

Becker’s Motel & Restaurant Near Our Home

Katy Keene Comic Book. 1953.

Family Portrait at Becker’s Apartment in Norfolk, Nebraska. Appx. 1954

Michelle’s Ice Cream Emporium

Baked Alaska

Meme and Arianne picking wildflowers in the Colorado mountains

Pioneer Family: Big Sister Arianne, Meme, Young John, Family Protector Baby, 1980

Clowning Around with Meme, Frou Frou, Arianne and Baby

More Clowning Around: in Denver with Studious Meme, Silly Ari & Pensive John

Ari and John near the infamous tent which Mother purchased for her darling grandchildren. Summer, 1979

Mother & Ruby in Omaha, after Grandma Bolin’s funeral. 1979

Garage Sale at 1574 South Columbine Street, Denver. 1984

(from left): Anna, Ruby, Arianne, Meme, John & Arpad in the mountains. 1980

John in mountains during trip with Arpad. 1980

At 1574 South Columbine Street, backyard.

In mountains with Meme, Baby, Arianne, John and Michelle. 1980.

John and his Garage Sale Hamster!

Meme, John and Baby at Todds Point, Old Greenwich, CT. Thanksgiving 1984

Baby & Frou Frou resting on sleeping Meme in the backyard at 1574 S. Columbine, 1983

RMS Queen Mary

Whittier Hall, Columbia University; Dorm Where Ted O’Donnell & I Lived as Students

Arianne and Meme during our last visit with Grandma in her old people’s home in Omaha. Summer 1979.

Barb, MJ, Neighbor’s Dog at 2275 Gray Street, Denver. 1948

Meme as a Young Child with her Horse, Snip. 1920

The Story of Meme’s Pet, Bobby the Squirrel

Jim, Agnes, Meme, Puppies and Meme’s doll named Mary Jane. 1930.

Tweety, Our Parakeet At 2912 West 3⁴th Street, Denver, 1954

Our Tweety with Barb and her Friend at Don Madsen’s, Norfolk. 1954

Barbara O’Donnell, Norfolk. In yellow dress. Appx. 1954.

Our little Jackie. 1959.

Baby’s Puppy Information when Adopted

Baby on red fluffy bed which I made for her

Baby Dressed for Christmas

Misha I, our lovely Italian Greyhound, and Bob Nicholl became great friends. 2007.

Misha I Peeking Out from Covers. 2007

Misha II and Friend, Lambkin (most often used as a pillow). 2014.

Misha Bolin, RIP: December 21, 2021

001_a_lbj6.jpg

Mary Irene Drucilla Ruther Bolin In polka dot dress, approximately 1932 / fifteen years of age

DEDICATION

This collection of stories, recollections, and anecdotes

is dedicated to my dear mother,

MARY IRENE BOLIN – Meme –

who died on September 7, 1986 at the young age of 69.

As her firstborn child, I now recognize her courage, her selfless love and the amazing

gifts that Meme gave to me. However, as happens with many foolish children, I did not

appreciate her generosity of spirit or abundant talents while she was alive.

Looking back, I realize how profoundly my mother influenced my life,

guiding me and nurturing qualities which have made me stronger, more

determined, and better prepared to participate fully in life.

Meme taught me so much:

* To recognize the beauty of the world around me as well as my own inner strength. * To

seek solutions to problems creatively and look at things in new ways. * To be kind and help

those in need – people as well as animals. * To be a true and dependable friend. * To look

at life with hope and expectation and always to be grateful for all I’ve been given.

She was beautiful and trim throughout her life - probably because she was busy and

active all the time - and she had lovely high cheekbones which I always admired!

She always had at least a dozen projects on her to do list which included playing and

taking walks with her pets, especially her sweet poodles, Baby and Frou Frou.

The sixth of eight children, she was born and raised on a farm and her early life was not easy.

Yet she was optimistic about people and the future and determined to grow and learn.

All of this is not to say that Meme was perfect. Like all of us, she had her share of shortcomings,

however, she was fascinated by different places, different cultures and different ways of

doing things. When she died, she was planning to move from Colorado to Connecticut

and to start a new life close to her beloved grandchildren, Arianne and John.

Meme worked very hard for Barbara and me and she was our most

enthusiastic, most enduring and most reliable champion. For all this, and

for so much more, I love her very much and I am forever grateful.

CHAPTER 1:

OUR MOTHER & HER

ENDURING LEGACY

Dear Aidan, Allie & Mimi, do you know what a legacy is? It is something of value which a person leaves to the world which hopefully makes it a better place. A legacy can be money, property, a home, beautiful jewelry or valuable works of art. A legacy can also be information that someone has gathered together and preserved so that others can enjoy and learn from it.

The stories which follow are part of Meme’s legacy to her family – her children and her grandchildren, her great grandchildren and others who will follow. They embody our Bolin family and Ruther family traditions and I hope they will teach you a bit about the origins of the clan that produced you and the people who love you. When you have children of your own, I hope you will share this collection of stories with them so that they, too, can enjoy Meme’s wonderful legacy which is such an important part of our family history.

When I was little and Barbara was even smaller (although she is, of course, older than me! :), Meme was always eager that we grow and learn and, thereby, become good and responsible adults. To help, she sometimes used examples from her own life or perhaps from a book she had read or from a story her mother had told her. Armed with these examples, Meme was able to tell us why - among other things - it is important to eat our vegetables, to be kind to each other, not to waste the resources of our wonderful earth, to do well in school and to obey our parents.

At bedtime, we would often curl up with Meme and beg her to tell us a story about imaginary children or real family members or animals or experiences from her own life - all of which had little lessons or morals tucked inside.

She really loved children – especially her own grandchildren - and animals – especially dogs - and she was a terrific storyteller! She had a great imagination and it was reflected in the tales she told. She appreciated interesting words and, with her great sense of humor, certainly knew how to keep us laughing and captivated.

Meme loved to tell us stories and we loved hearing them - over and over again. She would raise her voice in exciting parts of the story or lower it in quieter parts, speak faster here and slower there. She would often create different voices for the people or animals in her stories and tickle our imaginations so that her words took on a life of their own. Her voice was very expressive and, had she tried, I’m sure she could have become a very successful actress!

Some of her stories were made up, and included bears and bunnies and other animals, or they might be true-to-life stories. She also loved books and read many to us about CINDERELLA and JACK AND THE BEANSTALK or THE POKY LITTLE PUPPY which was my very favorite book. Her favorite book as a child was HELEN’S BABIES. Be sure and check my library for her copy of this book which she treasured.

002_a_lbj6.jpg

Poky Little Puppy

003_a_lbj6.jpg

Helen’s Babies

One of her made-up stories which I loved, and which was also Barbara’s favorite, began like this: Once upon a time there were three little rabbits, Flopsy, Mopsy, Peter and Cottontail…. Barbara and I would giggle, No, Mommy!!! You said there were THREE rabbits but you named FOUR!!!" and we would all laugh at her error - which was on purpose, of course.

Still laughing, Meme would say, Oh! Now how could I have made such a mistake??? And then she would correct the number of rabbits from three to four and proceed with her story about the bunnies and their adventures with their animal friends who lived in the woods. We loved her joke, loved correcting her and also loved the stories that followed - the fruits of her vivid imagination, her skill as a storyteller and her great love for her two little girls, Mary Jane and Barbara.

But more than anything, I loved hearing stories about our family. Meme told us real stories about real events that happened in her life on the farm and in the lives of her siblings and our Daddy, and to other family members. Children in those days didn’t have computers or Internet or TV or electronic games and things that now entertain and teach you. Instead, we would often cuddle up with Meme and beg her, Mommy, please tell us the story about… even though we’d heard it a hundred times.

We loved hearing the stories about when she was a little girl, about her parents and grandparents, about her life on the farm with her brothers, sisters and pets - like Snip, her horse and Bobby, her pet squirrel - and, later about her life in the big city, Omaha, Nebraska, and how she met and fell in love with our Daddy. She would tell us stories about when we were young and describe the funny things Barbara and I did when we were babies. But always her real message was how much she loved us and how eager she was to help us grow into kind, thoughtful and responsible adults.

She was able to do all this despite a hearing loss which occurred when she was a child and got worse as she grew older. I will tell you that story a bit later, but we are so fortunate that this handicap did not affect her ability to tell us about our family or details of our childhood.

In a real way, our parents and grandparents and great grandparents and all our ancestors have shaped our lives and have made us the people we are today. Stories about these ancestors tell us about our family history and help us to understand who we are.

It makes me very happy to be able to pass Meme’s stories on to you so that you can enjoy them and get to know more about your family. I consider it both a tremendous privilege and a great responsibility to share these with you. My hope is that you will grow to love these stories as I do, and that from them, you will understand more about our family and that someday you will share them with your own children!

Meme’s ability to tell great stories came, I believe, from her mother, Anna Goedde-Ruther - also known as Annie - and I appreciate the boundless talent which both women possessed. I don’t know for certain but perhaps Grandma Annie developed HER storytelling knack from her mother or her grandmother or some other family member. What do you think?

005_a_lbj6.jpg

Grandma Ruther and Little Me on the farm at Inman, Nebraska, Appx. 1946

Storytelling is a terrific way to pass down love and understanding and information from one generation to the next. Through stories we also learn lessons which enrich our lives and the lives of those around us. My hope is that this little book will accomplish all of that for all who read it.

These stories have helped me to understand not only my immediate family, but also those who went before us – their struggles as well as their successes. People throughout the world love to tell stories – real and make-believe. In a real way, through storytelling, we share a common experience with all these people and across many generations. Wherever stories are told, they entertain us, they teach us and help us to understand and appreciate our brothers and sisters on this amazing Earth.

I am very grateful to Grandma Barbara who read through these stories, made excellent suggestions for their improvement, and shared her amazing computer skills so that this little book could be