We are going to post a running total of the number of exposures that we have taken. It will help us and you understand the progress that we are making.
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| Go Kaden. Our first teenage grandson. |
K A D E N
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| Grandma is preparing the list to read to Grandpa as he pulls the files. Grandma put the boxes together as Grandpa fills them. |
We experienced a surprise this week which has required some adjustments for us.
We had calculated that we would be wrapping up Lincoln County by July. We have an inventory sheet, from the Family History Department which tells us what records we are contracted to film for the County. The last entry on the inventory sheet was for Divorce records 1892-1950. The inventory listed 20,000 exposures for these divorce records. Well, it looked as though we would be starting on those particular records in about June, so Grandpa asked to see the records so that I would know where to find them. We also needed to get more information about the records so that we could make any special preparations before the time came to film them. As it turns out the records were located in the middle of a parking lot in a 40 foot metal shipping container. The other surprise was that the volume of records was grossly underestimated. This is a letter that we sent to our supervisor which explains most of our surprise:
"Dear Chuck,
We wanted to give you some details about what we have resolved on the divorce files. We have stopped filming and are rushing to get all of the pertinent files out of the storage container(hot box) before the temperatures are too dangerous. We have looked at every page of 38 years of Civil Appearance Dockets (more than 10,000 cases). From those books we have found 2,250 divorce cases. We have now gone to the container to pull the files, as they are mixed in with all other civil case files. There are 15 four drawer file cabinets that we must searched. When completed we will have filled 25 cardboard legal storage boxes. This will give us most of the divorce files from 1892 to 1930. Then we will load another 25 boxes from the consolidated divorce files from 1930 to 1950. They are also in file cabinets in the same storage container. We are rushing to get all of these files inside our office before the very hot weather is upon us. Today we worked in the container most of the day. In the afternoon outside temperatures were in the high 80s, inside the box was much higher. We have a case of water bottles with us and are keeping well hydrated. We will likely be in the hot box for 2 weeks.
All of this document preparation will have a serious affect on our filming productivity. Cleaning these documents for filming will be slower than the probate records which were rather well cared for. Our schedule will change considerably with these new developments. The divorce files were estimated to be 20k on the Record Listing Form. We will film well over 220,000 exposures in the divorce files. That is 11 times greater than the estimate from SLC. We are estimating, now, that we will not be leaving Chandler until November sometime. When this project is finished, Lincoln County should have not much less than a half million exposures on film.
We think the folks here at Lincoln County are starting to believe that we are doing the impossible. They seam to be stunned at what these two old duffers are able and willing to do. We are providing them information about their own records that they have never known. Of course, they are delighted that we are separating the divorce files. We are taking this change in stride and are forging ahead to get the job done. We recognize that the "hot box" is another test of faith for us. Or maybe this is our punishment for not being faithful enough. At any rate, we are pressing forward and are happy to be serving here. The Lord will and has provided. Thanks. Elder and Sister Nielson."
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| Grandma is making sure that envelopes are in order, then she lables the boxes with the correct numbers You can see 16 other boxes on the right that we have already filled. We ended up with 30 boxes. |
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| It is hard to see Grandpa's headlamp on the brim of my hat but you can see the glow on the files as I am searching them. |
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| It was difficult to capture the spider skeletons and webs that were clinging to the boxes. There were about 20 spider carcasses in this photo. We had a small hand broom that we used to dust off the envelopes before we handled them. |
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| Grandma took this photo, looking north, from our office/bedroom window on Sunday afternoon. The temperature was in the high 80s |
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| Elder Westwood and Elder Burr. We are in regular contact with them. We love these guys. They went to Piute High School together. What are the chances for that? Nothing happens by chance to missionaries. Elder Westwood is the trainer for Elder Burr. |
ROAD TRIP THIS WEEKEND - A Needed Break
On friday afternoon we took off for the Oklahoma Panhandle. We wanted to see it, at it's best, in the spring. And we certainly did. Locals keep asking us why we want to see the Panhandle? They think it is "no man's land". Actual it is. The Panhandle was named "no man's land" durring the latter half of the the 1800's. It is called no mans land because it was brutal in the winter and unihabitable in the summer. There was no government or law which made a perfect home for outlaws, indians, and buffalo. It also lived up to it's title in the 1920 which started the great drought and the forthcoming dust bowl. During that period this land was nothing but blowing dust.
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| Endless fields of wheat and pasture grass. The only things that are vertical, out here, are man-made, sheds, oil pumps, grain bins, and windmills. |
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| Windmills are still the sole source of water for cattle. They are everywhere and most are turning with the wind and pumping water. |
Some people say that western Box Elder County is "no man's land". But there is no landscape that Grandpa enjoys more than the high desert of northwestern Utah.
We loved this drive through the Pandhandle. It possesses great beauty.
We also wanted to see our friends Elder and Sister Peterson from Hooper, Utah. They are serving in Woodward, where he is second councilor in the Branch Presidency. They are doing lots of good there. We enjoyed talking to them. You may remember from an earlier blog, that Sister Peterson and Grandpa went to Garland Elementary School together. One of the Peterson's biggest challenges is to restart hometeaching and visiting teaching again. They have not done either for years.
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| This is the great Panhandle of Oklahoma. This photo has nothing to do with the tornados talked about next, however tornados do frequent this area. |
Tornado Season
We are into tornado season in Oklahoma. We had a tornado warning two weeks ago. We could see the dark, ominous clouds to the west of us. The missionaries were with us at the time. We have a National Weather Service radio that broadcasts when a tornado or other severe weather is approaching. The severe thunderstorms which bring the tornados also bring hale the size of tennis balls. Most locals have seen both, but few have been directly affected. Our Stake President told us that a few years ago he was home working with his boys in the garage when a tornado warning was sounded. He immediately gathered his family and went to the bath tub where he and his wife arched themselves over their children in the tub. Their entire house was picked up and rotated 180 degrees and then dropped back on it's foundation. They were not injured.
B A T T L E O F T H E G K I D S
Ground Rules:
Some emphasis is important: All of these solutions can be found on the internet. Work together to find the answers. Do not go to the Web. This little bit of family fun will deteriorate quickly if you do. You are on your own honor.
The Grandchildren will compete within two age groups; those that are now younger than eight (the BRANIACs) and those that are now eight and older (the MINDBENDERs). Grandchildren will remain in their respective groups throughout our mission. The winner within each group will be the first grandchild to send the correct answer by text to Grandma's iphone (435-757-8561). Do not text Grandpa because the winner will be determined by the time the text is sent to Grandma. There will be separate contests for both age groups based on what we judge to be appropriately difficult for the age. The prize for the week, for the winner of each age group, will be $10.00 deposited into the grandchild's savings account that Grandma opened for you when you were born. At the end of Grandma and Grandpa's mission the winner of the most blog contests, in each group, will receive a Grand Prize when we return home. We will give reports on your progress as a winner. The ground rules will be that you cannot use the internet to find your answers. Parents should use your own judgement about the age of the child, the level of help that you provide, and family fairness. If grandchildren want to work together, their winnings will be split based on the number of participants on the team.
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BRAINIACS
Previous winners:
Won By Brainiac: NATHAN
How long did it take Great Grandpa Palmer to cross the ocean on a ship when he was traveling to his Mission in England?
Answer: 6 1/2 days.
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BRAINIACS
Previous winners:
Won By Brainiac: NATHAN
Answer: 6 1/2 days.
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The Next Brainiac Challenge:
How do you get an elephant in a fridge?
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MINDBENDERS
Previous Winners:
Won By Mindbender: KADEN
Using the previous blog, estimate the gallons of oil stored at the Cushing Oil Reserve shown in the aerial photograph. Then calculate the number of oil tankers that could be filled with the oil at the Cushing Oil Reserve. The grandchild(ren) that comes closest to Grandpa's calculation will be the winner. Text Grandma with your estimate of the number of OIL TANKERS.
KADEN's ANSWER: 157
Grandpa's Estimate was 287 Tankers. Kaden, you did a great job putting your mind to this. Grandma and Grandpa were very impressed. Thanks. Actually, after checking on the U. S oil reserves there are about 110 Tankers of oil in Cushing, Oklahoma. You were closer than Grandpa's math. It took me about an hour to generate my estimate with a big spreadsheet. Good Work.
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| This is the largest Oil tanker in the World It is 5 football fields long, as wide as one football field is long, and is higher than the Statue of Liberty. That would be as tall as stacking 6 homes, like yours, on top of each other. This tanker holds 4 million gallons of oil. |
The Next Mindbender Challenge:
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| This is spring time in beautiful Oklahoma. What is this popular yellow Oklahoma crop called and what is it used for? You may use the computer, only this time, for your research. |
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ONLY IN OKLAHOMA
You know you are from Utah if you know the difference between a 'Steak House'
and a 'Stake House'.
You know you are from Oklahoma because there are at least 2 to Sonics, McDonalds, and pizza shops in your town.
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| We ran across about a half mile of fence where each post had a unique piece of wood art. More to come in later blogs. |
HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU. UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN.
GRANDMA AND GRANDPA
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