August 14, 2019
Liz Writes Life
Garden
Loved, loved, loved the cooler
weather from the thunder storms last weekend. Didn’t appreciate the lightning
starting fires, but from several reports, it looks like fire agencies from
Klamath National Forest, to CalFire and local volunteer groups were attacking
them as fast as they were reported. Sure do hope they are all stopped quickly.
Go fire fighters!
Rain hammered-down here on Friday
night and I heard Callahan received hail. Then a nice rain showered several
times on Saturday. Oh, it was so nice to let nature do the irrigating for
several days!
Found five more ripe tomatoes.
Luckily, I continued to find friends, who were happy to take the zucchini. The
pie pumpkins are already turning orange. My McBroom neighbors, up the hill,
gave me several boxes of peaches from their tree, so I canned 15 pints and put
a bag in the freezer. Also, enjoyed several bowls of sliced peaches and milk.
Yum!
Power went out twice at my place
Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Sure appreciated the robo calls from
Pacific Power to let me know what was going on. I knew where my flashlights
were and used them on Friday night. Was surprised that it was only about an
hour and the lights came back on. I did remember to unplug the sensitive
computers, television and wifi. Over the years, lightning has taken out my
telephone line – twice – and the wifi or computer modem several times. Because
of the continuing lightning into Saturday, I just left them all unplugged. Felt
kinda good to cut the cords!
Unfortunately, after heavy
thunderstorms, it seems the puncture vine grows faster than anything. So, I
will need to go out around the house, with the grubbing hoe, to dig them out
before they get to be 10-feet across. I drag along a big trash bag to put them
in. Ugh, those weeds are bad.
1959
As the dog days of summer continue
(after the excitement and socializing from the Siskiyou Golden Fair, last
week), let’s take a look back at what was going on 60 years ago in 1959. Yep,
time to reminisce a bit. What were you doing in 1959?
I found this info on the internet.
Who needs encyclopedias anymore? (I do! And I still have my World Book 1989 set
on the shelf – just in case the internet ever goes out and I need something to
read.)
The average U.S. cost of a new house
was around $12,000 and the average yearly wage was at $5,000. The cost of a
gallon of gas was 25 cents and a new car cost approximately $2,000. A loaf of
bread was 20 cents. A movie ticket was $1, but for some reason, I don’t think
Avery’s charged that much at their theater in Etna -- at least not for kids. If
anyone remembers the price, please give me a call.
On January 3rd, Alaska
became the 49th state admitted to the United States, but I
wonder how many new odd-numbered-starred flags were made before Hawaii was
admitted as the 50th state on Aug. 21st?
After a gritty and grungy revolution,
Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba causing worry because of his alliance with
the Soviet Union. And the infamous “Kitchen Debate” was held by United States’
Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet Union’s Premier Nikita Khrushchev, when
they engaged in an unplanned discussion on July 24th at the
U.S. trade show held in Moscow. The two leaders argued the merits of capitalism
and communism, while standing in a model of a modern kitchen that was on
display. It was made famous, because an American press filmed the encounter
and, surprisingly, was aired in both countries.
Also in international news, the Dalai
Lama and thousands of his followers escaped Tibet, when the revolution against
Chinese aggression heightened. And an Antarctic Treaty was signed by 12
countries that had been active in the region. The purpose was to guarantee
peaceful use of the uninhabited continent for scientific purposes and global
cooperation. There are now 53 countries that have signed on to the treaty.
Closer to home, Mattel debuted the
first Barbie Doll. My mom purchased the second or third model for me. My
friend, Candace Seaver, and I played with the dolls, but I think our moms had
the most fun sewing beautiful clothes for them. I still have my dolls and there
are more homemade clothes than the store-bought ones.
NASA introduced the first group of
astronauts, known as the Mercury Seven. They were Alan Shepard, John Glenn,
Walter Schirra, Donald Slayton, Virgil “Gus” Grissom, L. Gordon Cooper and M.
Scott Carpenter, who took part in USA’s first human space flight program called
“Project Mercury.”
Back on earth, after more than 60
years of planning, engineering and cooperation by the U.S. and Canada, the St.
Lawrence Seaway finally linked the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean creating
an economic boon.
New television programs included
“Rawhide”, “Bonanza”, “The Untouchables”, and “The Twilight Zone”, which still
ranks as one of the most unique and well-written shows in TV history. It
featured unknown actors who become quite famous, including Ron Howard, Dennis
Hopper, Robert Redford and William Shatner. Guess, “Twilight Zone” was a great
precursor for Shatner honing his leading role in “Star Trek” a few years later.
In 1959, we didn’t have a television
and I have never caught the reruns of “The Twilight Zone.” Hum, I wonder if
they are available on Netflix or other streaming services. Don’t think my dad
thought much of TV and it certainly was not a necessity at the time.
Popular movies were “Some Like it
Hot”, “Ben Hur”, and “North by Northwest.” Academy Award winners were “Gigi”,
“The Big Country”, and “The Defiant Ones.”
So, now you get to ponder on your
memories that are a bit closer to home. Be sure to share those memories. Write
them down for your posterity! How else will history be preserved, if we don’t
record it? Yep, this is a challenge to you!
POW
Scott Valley Protect Our Water will
meet Aug, 29, 2019 at the Fort Jones Community Center at 7 p.m. Ray Haupt,
Dist. 5 Siskiyou Co. Supervisor, will be speaking.
Liz Bowen began writing ranch and
farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County
and lives near Callahan. Columns from the past year can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com.
Call her at 530-467-3515.
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