Holiday Memories of Irene Mousley

When I was a young girl, in the 1930’s, Christmas began and ended with music, mostly singing. Christmas Caroling was our favorite thing to do. Sometimes we went in the school bus up and down the Valley, singing our hearts out and laughing in between homes.

Our home was humble but adequate: No running water, that is, we ran from the well or later the pump, to the kitchen with buckets full of water for household use. Yes, we bathed in round #2 tubs.

It was a great day when electricity came to our town and we could have a cord with one light bulb hanging down in the center of a room for light, and a string of Christmas tree lights. I think we continued to use oil lamps as well until we could have electric lamps to help brighten up each room.

By (Myrtle) Irene Mousley, daughter of Nathan Cram Tenney and Myrtle Payne

Thanksgiving Memories of Asia Cazier

I remember the year that Grandma Irene and Grandpa Woody came to our house for Thanksgiving.

It was close to dinner time, the house smelled of turkey and stuffing, and my parents were finishing up the last few side dishes.  My dad was whipping up the mashed potatoes (without salt or butter because it was the 90s and fat free food was in).  Grandma Irene was sneaking salt and butter into the potatoes because that's what makes mashed potatoes taste good.  My mom was getting the can opener to open up a can of something I had never seen before.

With the lid off the can, my mom grabbed the nearest clean stoneware plate (no fine china for us) and flipped the can upside down over the plate.  At first nothing happened, but then I heard a little slurping noise and out came a red, jelly-like substance looking exactly  like the can it just came out of.

And that was it.  It went on the table as is.

It was that Thanksgiving that I found out that Grandpa Woody loved cranberry sauce.  At first I thought he loved it in "can" shape because that it how it was presented on the table.  Later during dinner, he knocked the erect cranberry sauce on its side and cut it up in slices.

It was also at that Thanksgiving that the kitchen sink was clogged with about two tons of potato peels.  And at that Thanksgiving that Grandpa left us with a prayer and offered up thanks that we could spend Christmas together.  No sooner had the words come out of his mouth than the correct holiday, "Thanksgiving," was said in a monotone, steady voice by another participant in the prayer.

That was a Thanksgiving to remember.

So when you enjoy your Thanksgiving meal this year, please do consider including a can of cranberry sauce.

By Asia Cazier, daughter of Richard and Lani Moore

Thanksgiving Memories of Irene Mousley

Most of my Thanksgiving memories have faded away—so long ago.  I just remember the joy of beautiful autumn days, tables heavy with good food, cousins, aunts and uncles all there to share the day.  When I said I couldn't eat another bite (I was sort of shrimpy and my family would always urge me on) someone suggested that if I were to run/circle the house a few times maybe I could eat a little more which I tried with little success. 

I recall singing “Over the River”….and other Thanksgiving songs.  We sang a lot in those days wherever we went, always group singing which I loved.

But, here is a precious little song that Mother taught me and I sang as a girl on and around Thanksgiving.  It is quaint, violent but with a moral.  Lori and I will be singing it this month and smiling. 

Fourteen little turkeys, on a roost one night,

Grumbled at their supper which was very light.

Along there came a farmer, with his axe in hand

And he chopped the heads of from the turkey band.

Said one little turkey, just before he died,

“We could have been much happier if we’d only tried.”

By (Myrtle) Irene Mousley, daughter of Nathan Cram Tenney and Myrtle Payne

Grandma Irene Turns 90!

We honor Irene Mousley today and wish her the happiest of birthdays on her 90th!

In our attempt to describe this wonderful woman these are some thoughts that we had:

kind, caring, thoughtful, loving, helpful - Dan Tersigni

giving, spiritual, outgoing, dependable, listener - Rose Tersigni

generous, loving, intelligent, thoughtful, full of faith - Steve Tersigni

energetic, driven, pious, bright, motherly, sociable - Lori Tersigni

friend, patient, loving, dutiful, feisty - April Mousley

driven, visionary, optimistic, proper, operatic - Adam Moore

spiritual, loving - Shellie Weed

beautiful, majestic, intelligent, charitable, kind, faithful, loving, caring, graceful, peaceful, positive, patient, enduring, helpful, reverent, good - Stew Weed

intelligent,well read, best friend, excellent prayer, driven, server, good heart - Lani Moore

noble, classy, prayerful, powerful, patient  - Asia Cazier

happy, fun, likes the violin -Evelyn Wilson

strong, loving, kind, faithful, thoughtful, good, enduring, inspiring - Christopher Weed

faithful, assiduous, longsuffering, articulate, inspiring, beautiful, matriarchal, powerful, noble, obsequious - Josh Weed

inspiring, spiritual, loving, matriarch, charitable, courageous, lovable, intelligent, exemplary, comforting, beautiful, refined - Mousley Family

thoughtful - Thomas Tersigni
pretty -Henry Tersigni
compassionate, affable, warm, intelligent, spirited - Kayla Tersigni

smart, charming, lovely, spiritual, inspiring, sweet, kind, well organized, giving, generous, warm, welcoming, witty - Jennilyn Pratt



We love you Grandma!

Grandpa Woody's Owls

I was about 7 or 8 years old when Grandpa Woody showed me how to draw an owl. This is what I remember from his lesson.

Step 1
Draw a circle for the head.

Step 2
Draw two rounded lines down from the head to make the body.

Step 3
Draw some wings on the sides of his body.

Step 4
Draw an upside down triangle from the top of the owl's head to the  middle of his face.  This triangle makes the beak and a place for the owl's eyes.  Draw two dots and two semicircles for eyes right next to the triangle beak.

Step 5
Give the owl some details like feathers on his head and chest as well as tiny talons.


By Asia Cazier, daughter of Richard and Lani Moore

The Observatory

The observatory was a room unlike any other.  The stairway up to the room was more like a carpeted ladder with deep rungs.  The door was  not a door at all, but a hatch like you'd find on a pirate ship or a rocket. The whole room was carpeted, including what you might describe as a giant stair step against the far wall. And no one else I knew had a roll back roof!

I don't remember if I actually spent the night in Grandpa Woody's observatory.  For me there was a scary factor to the observatory, especially if I was up there alone.  What was behind those miniature doors on both sides of the room? Did the roof even have a locking device?  The tiny doors sure didn't. And what about spiders? Certainly any room with a rolling roof was sure to have spiders.

In spite of my imagination running wild, filling me with terrifying ideas about what really was in the observatory, I actually spent a decent amount of time as a kid in that hideaway.

Grandpa's observatory was featured in the popular magazine, Sunset. I tried to get a copy of the magazine article, but was told it was out of print.

I like that one dictionary defines observatory as "a place or structure that provides an extensive view." In that spirit, let this be a place where we can provide an extensive view of family with the past, present and future in mind.

By Asia Cazier, daughter of Richard and Lani Moore

A Toast With Toast and Tea

In honor of the launch of this online memoir, where family and friends can share memories and record history, I, for one, am toasting.  Will you join me in a toast with toast and tea?

Here's how it is done.  Make your tea, whatever you have will do.  But make sure to add a little honey and if your stomach can tolerate it, a little milk.  Let that steep while you toast your bread.  Make sure it is well done!  Place your tea on a saucer and your toast on a paper towel, folded in half.  This is how it is done.  Or at least this is how I've seen it done time and time again by Grandma and Grandpa Mousley.

This tea cup was handed down to Evelyn from her great-grandma (Wilson side). 

A toast to family and memories and to stories to be uncovered, to traditions and legacies passed down.  A toast to progeny and posterity. May this be a place where stories are shared and connections are made between present, past, and future!

By Asia Cazier, daughter of Richard and Lani Moore