Grandma talks about growing up in Ephraim

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In Memorium

Ken, you will be missed. I will keep the memory of our last ride to the fields to see the new calves and colts close to my heart. It was early Spring, so clear and sparkling, the fields green and full of new life.

With your passing, I also mourn the end of an era in Ephraim: one of real cowboys, hard-work, and a deep, unbroken connection to place and heritage.

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Renovation Process Update

 I've been gone for two months - working in Santa Barbara on a big project - and have just now gotten back into the swing of things here at home, and that includes thinking about Ephraim.

So here is a quick update: Russell Bezette began the adobe renovation in October and made six trips to Ephraim over the next month, finishing the project before Thanksgiving. He took most of these photos to document the process. He is truly an expert on these old buildings with a life-time of experience, and a great love for his craft. It was truly a pleasure to work with him. I think he is up for another Utah Heritage award.

A heartfelt thanks to all those who gave donations to fund this project, and the exterior renovation that will continue this Spring.

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Back bedroom before wall excavation.

Southeast failed corner. Russell found this wall in urgent need of repair and close to collapse.

After adobe repair and first coat of mud plaster.

After second coat of mud plaster.

After final coat. Bizette also repaired the chimney during excavation and now the old wood stove can be put in place again.

After exterior south wall excavation.

Here you see how the failed adobes are removed and the wall is re-built.

After repair of the stem wall and stucco scratch coat.

Blue room before and after.

Before and after.

After second coat of mud plaster.

After final coat of mud plaster. Bizette used local soils sourced from the west side of town, by the city dump. It is hard to grasp just how much raw material it takes to do this kind of repair - literally tons.

Passing Time

Wanda and Jennie

Now and Then

Susan Gilbert, Mahasin Saleh, and Julie Curtis in front of the Easton's store building. I guess this was over thirty years ago, around 1979.

Memorial Day 2013

I think it does the old house good to be filled to overflowing. A heart-felt thanks to all those who made the trek this year to our central point of origin.

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Water in the creek/krik and perfect weather.

Four generations of Sorenson women: Wanda Sorenson Bachman, Julie and Eliza Workman-Curtis, and Judy Bachman Curtis, at Ephraim Cemetery.

Two sets of twins: Wanda and Dale Sorenson and Nate and Will Curtis-Workman.

Wanda and Melvona Sorenson Boren with her great-grandchildren: Taite and Tieg Boren, and Hayden and Tori Weygant.

The Valkyries: Dana, Naja, and Melvona.

Hayden, Taite, Tori, and Tieg get ready to catch some taffy at the parade.

Betina Lindsey in Scandinavian garb.

Waiting for the parade!

The maypole tradition continues.

Visiting Ken Sorenson's corral: Eliza, Will & Nate, and Scout.

Eliza Curtis-Workman.

Always a good way to spend the afternoon.

The Curtis-Workman family at the beautiful Manti Temple.

The Out Buildings: Before & After

Outbuildings like barns, chicken coops, outhouses, granaries, sheds, and carriage houses, are often overlooked and under-appreciated in historic neighborhoods. Although simple in design and usually small in scale, they tell the story of the development of the home-site and the neighborhood, adding a visible layer of history and information. This is why we thought it was important to preserve these buildings for the next generation to explore.

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The Granary with a new metal roof.

Interior with new pine rafters. I had the roofers, Alpine Summit Roofing, save the old boards. Even though they were mostly rotted through, I find old barn wood irresistible and I'm sure they can be used for something. 

Granary floor after cleaning - I wasn't sure if it even had a floor.

The outhouse with a new cedar shingle roof. We also had the whole thing moved over, away from the encroaching trees onto a new timber base. According to Grandma Wanda, it's been moved all over the place.

The old two-seater is ready for business!

Sanpete

This is Sanpete, my cat. He found me on a cold November day in 2010. Ethan and I were walking to Ephraim Cemetery for Kenna Sorenson Kattelman's interment. In passing the abandoned motel on Main St, I heard the wee cry of a kitten calling out to us, a tiny grey one crouched under a roll of carpet. When we stopped, he came running and rolled around at my feet, purring all the while. Then I noticed his mouth was torn open at the corner and hanging agape with dried blood caked to his fur. We didn't know what to do with the wretched little thing, but we had to do something!

When we reached the cemetery, we gathered with the friends and family who had come to honor Kenna's life. Also in attendance, I believe there was a white owl in one of the giant pines that line the plots. Mara was there, and when we mentioned the kitten, she insisted that she would take us back to get him. We decided it was also a sign, since Kenna always kept cats and loved kittens. When we pulled-up to the motel and called for him, he came running. I wrapped him in a towel and we took him back to the house where he ate some leftover Thanksgiving turkey and slurped noisily at a bowl of water. I had to give him three baths, despite his protests, because he smelled so bad. But he didn't mind getting dried off with the hairdryer. We cleaned his mouth area the best we could, but it obviously needed medical attention. He curled up next to me and slept soundly that first night in the blue room.

So, to make a long story shorter, I named him Sanpete. He spent a month at the veterinarian's clinic and then I adopted him. Now he is a giant tomcat with lots of idiosyncrasies. He is kind of naughty, but I adore him anyway and he brings me pleasure everyday. We take him to Ephraim with us to keep the mice away and he gets extra frisky because he obviously enjoys being there. As do we.

Cleaning out the Granary

Of course we couldn't throw anything away! We even sifted through the dirt that we shoveled off the floor boards (I didn't even know if it still had a floor ) to make sure we didn't miss anything interesting or valuable. As the saying goes: "One man's trash is another man's treasure."