Monday, July 31, 2023

Milliron Monday: Letters Home Jan 5 1960

 

Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.:  June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010
Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021
Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, Dr. Pete and Jody Smith. 

"...wonderful to be able to look forward to these courses..."
― Jody Smith

Jody's letter home to Mansfield, Ohio. Backstory: Preparing for another quarter at Colorado State University, Jody writes of Christmas and college. She's in her final year at CSU - looking after Pete, keeping house, and in the family way. 

917 Remington
Fort Collins, Colorado
Tuesday, January 5, 1960

Hi,
    Just a short note to thank you for the "this and that" package. It was sure a lot of fun opening it, "just like Christmas again," Pete said. Can't begin to mention everything but I especially appreciated the silverware. It's wonderful to have a complete set - I love the butter knife and individual butter spreaders. Guess maybe I already wrote you that we bought an old butter churn for $2.00 and have been churning our own butter from the cream we skin from the milk. It's great fun to have real butter!
    Also love the teabag holders and the pretty teapot to match my set. We surely love our tea! If you remember, sometime we'd love some "Constant Comment" tea. I can't find any here in Fort Collins - one person said it was available in Denver but I don't get down there much for shopping! There's no hurry, we still have some left from the box you sent me last year and we only use it for guest occasions.
    Thanks also for the address labels, candy pecans, pajamas, sweater, hankies, etc.
    Enclosed are my grades from last quarter, guess I can't complain too much except that I feel I should have gotten an A in French, but at last I'm through with that - - - teacher. Now I have 32 hours of French. 30 are required for a minor. This quarter I'm taking 16 hours. I only need 25 more hours to graduate so I could have taken a real light load but I didn't see much sense in loafing that much.
    The courses for the quarter are: E115 Advanced Creative Writing (Short Story), 3 hours, 7-9:30 pm W; PL140 Logic and Scientific Method, 5 hours, 10 daily. This should be interesting and different! I know absolutely nothing about such things so figured now was a good time to find out; E167 English Literature 1740-1790, 5 hours, 11 daily. I don't care for this type of literature at all, but maybe I'll learn enough to change my mind - I hope; AR91 History of Art, 3 hours, 3 MWF. 
    It's certainly wonderful to be able to look forward to these courses rather than dread those horrid education courses.
Thanks again for the package.
Love,
Jody

Previous Letters Home: 

~  ~ 

  
Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.

  

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Monday, July 24, 2023

Milliron Monday: Letters Home Dec 13 1959

 

Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.:  June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010
Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021
Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, Dr. Pete and Jody Smith. 

"As you may have suspected from your phone call, we are going to have a baby."
― Jody Smith

Jody's letter home to Mansfield, Ohio. Backstory: Pete and Jody are attending Colorado State University - still receiving wedding gifts, Gary and Aggie are Jody's brother and sister-in-law, Jessie is Jody's grandmother. 

917 Remington
Fort Collins, Colorado
Sunday, December 13, 1959

Dear Mom and Dad,
    Finals are over at long last. This vacation laziness is really terrific after all that studying. Hope my grades come out about same as usual - won't know until registration day for sure.
    As you may have suspected from your phone call, we are going to have a baby. This certainly surprised us after all the precautions we've been taking but at least I'll be able to graduate without much trouble since the baby isn't due until the middle of July. I went to the doctor last Friday for a check up to find out for sure. The doctor seems very pleasant and quite competent so we're lucky in that. She (Dr. Ruth Rumley) and her husband have their offices together. This baby is surely upsetting our plans but it's what we were risking by getting married, so I guess we can't complain. I'd certainly rather have a baby even at this inconvenient time rather than never be able to have one at all so I guess that's another thing to be grateful for. Evidently this is the way God wants it since we'd surely done all we could as a precaution.
    We're going down to McArthur's for a few days - leaving tomorrow morning, hope to be back here by Thursday.
    Burr Betts and his family have invited us to come to Denver to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with them.
    We got a very nice card from the Reagles, inviting us to come see them so we're planning on stopping to see them some time this vacation.
    Can't remember if I mentioned that Liz Schaefer sent us a cheese cutter, an icebox set, and pillowcases which match the pink and white striped sheets some of the Smith's friends sent us and also matches the pink side of the electric blanket cover. Please fill in her street number and mail the card; thanks.
    You're welcome to tell Jessie about our expected family addition. I'd like her to know (as well as Gary and Aggie, of course) if it won't upset her too much. We're certainly looking forward to receiving the ham and Christmas breakfast from Jones' Dairy Farm. That's awfully sweet of her to send them.
    Sorry we couldn't be coming home to be with you all this Christmas, but we're really going to have to start saving the pennies for the little one.
    Pete sold his cows last Wednesday and even made a bit of money on them plus all of his valuable experience operating on their cancer eyes.
    Will try to write again as soon as we get back from McArthur's.
Love to all of you,
Jody

Previous Letters Home: 



~  ~ 

  
Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.

  

 
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Monday, July 17, 2023

Milliron Monday: Letters Home Dec 2 1959


Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.:  June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010
Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021
Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, Dr. Pete and Jody Smith. 

"I really enjoy baking pies, fortunately, since Pete loves pie."
― Jody Smith

Jody's letter home to Mansfield, Ohio. Backstory: Pooh is the Smith's cat, Gary Franklin is Jody's nephew, Mike is the Smith's Irish Setter staying with Jody's parents (for now). 

917 Remington

Fort Collins, Colorado
Wednesday, December 2, 1959

Hi Everyone,
    Sorry I'm being so tardy about writing but this has been a busy, busy time. I just finished reading a 500 page novel; typing 80 pages of yearly lesson plan, unit plan, and ten daily lesson plans; what a bother. I spent about three weekends plus almost all of Thanksgiving vacation working on the darn stuff. Boy, that typewriter was sure a big help, Jess. I've been pounding on the poor thing about six hours a day for a week. As soon as I get my last short story done, I'll give the poor thing a rest.
    We had a nice Thanksgiving day though. We got a little seven-pound turkey which fortunately turned out just fine (wrapped in aluminum foil, etc.) dressing, sweet potatoes, and even a pumpkin pie - I really enjoy baking pies, fortunately, since Pete loves pie. A friend of Pete's who also lives in one of the rooms had dinner with us since he's from Pennsylvania.
    The weather was beautiful Sunday so I got out of the house (and the pile of education paper) and rode Starboy. Poor fellow, he must think I've deserted him. He seems to be enjoying himself though, judging by this fat tummy.
    Pooh is continuing his happy life, eating more and more, getting fatter and fatter, and taking over the Smith household more and more. He's only five months old and about twice as big as when we got him a few weeks ago. He still continues to eat all sorts of strange things and probably never will hear of such a delicacy as cat food. He loves cheese - cottage cheese, American cheese, etc., toast, egg, practically any scraps we give him except celery leaves, but he likes to play with those. He's getting to be a real personality cat. Pete sure enjoys him - plays with him a lot, takes him outside to climb trees and, fortunately, takes charge of keeping Pooh's cat pan clean.
    Thank you very much for the last letter - it arrived Special Delivery Sunday morning. We splurged again and went out to dinner Sunday night. I've filled out the membership blanks for Phi Kappa Phi. I hope it'll be worth it; I sure have never heard much about the organization.
    The married bliss is continuing full force; still convinced it's the greatest.
Now Friday, December 4...
    Starboy has made a real hit with the Owen's children (farm where we keep the cows). Their little boy is six years old and anytime I ride Starboy up there, he comes tearing out and I haul him up behind the saddle and let him ride a while. He sure is a cute little character. I go up there about once or twice a week. I've been teaching Starboy to drag bales of hay. Mr. Owens gave us a bunch of old bales of alfalfa which are partially moldy but still good enough, so Starboy and I drag them into the corral. He's really learned to drag them straight now, which is a good thing to know. Lots of horses spook the minute you drag even a rope behind them attached to the saddle horn, let alone two seventy-pound bales.
    The Owens' are both crazy over horses and board several of them in their barn. They were real disappointed that their oldest daughter - 11 years old - was scared to death and never got near horses. They were sure surprised when she got on Starboy last Wednesday, first time she's ever been on a horse.
    It's been three months now since the big day of September 4 [wedding]. Guess three months isn't such a long time but it seems hard to imagine or remember living without Pete.
    Liz Schafer sent us yesterday a cheese cutter, four icebox food containers, and two pretty pillowcases with pink roses. Thought it was certainly nice of her to remember us.
    I'm glad to hear that Gary Franklin is interested in animals. Hope he'll be able to come visit us and Starboy sometime soon.
    Unfortunately, Pooh doesn't care much for children. He spent most of his time and energy avoiding Debbie when she and Carol visited us. Debbie sure liked Starboy. She and Carol want cart riding with me twice and really liked it. I put the bells on the harness and she sure got a kick out of it.
    How are Mike and Gary Franklin getting along? I hope Mike has accepted Gary Franklin by now as well as he had accepted Mike.
Now Saturday...
    Guess I'd best end this now or it'll be another week. Finals are now upon us so next week will be study, study, study and then freedom.
    As far as our vote for the Christmas gifts are concerned, we're planning on very few festivities ourselves since we've got a busy work session (painting house, horse trailer, Christmastime, etc.).
    Pete's going to take some letters up to the mailbox so I'll quit now and get this mailed.
Love,
Jody 

~  ~ 

  
Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.

  

 
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Monday, July 10, 2023

Milliron Monday: Letters Home Nov 22 1959

Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.:  June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010
Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021
Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, Dr. Pete and Jody Smith. 

"We're both so swamped with studies..."
― Jody Smith

Jody's letter home to Mansfield, Ohio. Backstory: Pete and Jody are in college at Colorado Sate University (then Colorado A&M), newlyweds, Gary is Jody's brother, Jody was a long-time member of Eastern Star, Pulicidae means family of fleas.

917 Remington

Fort Collins, Colorado
November 22, 1959

Hi Everyone,

          Certainly was nice to hear your voices last night, Mom and Dad. I certainly didn’t realize it’d been so long since I’d written. I’m sorry you were worried about us.
        Thank you for the Eastern Star dues. I received a pleasant little note along with the card.
          Thanks also for all the clippings, enclosures, Christmas stamps, etc. you sent us.
          Gary, it surely sounds as though you’re awfully busy. I hope things are going alright for you.
          We’ve been mixed up in rather unhappy and serious family problems. Pete’s older sister, Carol, is getting a divorce. We went down to Denver yesterday to see her and Debbie, her little two year old girl, off at the airport. She went back to New York to stay with her folks awhile and then to get an apartment, job, etc. It’s been pretty much a mess all around but I hope it’s settled for the best now. I don’t think it’s necessary to mention it to the Smiths unless they bring up the subject (when you’re writing).
          Mr. Smith sent us his third book, which has recently been published by Prentice Hall. It looks quite interesting.
          We’re not going down to MacArthur’s for Thanksgiving after all. When we first found out about Carol’s divorce, we were going to meet her and Mrs. Smith (who was flying to Denver to drive back East with Carol) on Thanksgiving Day in Denver, so I wrote McArthur’s that we couldn’t come. But Carol decided to fly back herself and got a reservation for yesterday.
          We’re both so swamped with studies that it’s really a good thing now that we’ll be here. We’re going down to McArthur’s as soon as school is out and stay for a couple of days.
          Enclosed is a letter which I was quite surprised and flattered to received. This organization is supposed to be CSU’s equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa. Is it okay if I pay for it from my checking account? Pete said he could pay for it but I hate to ask him to right now since things are a bit tight. Please let me know before December 2nd (and send me back the letter).
Love, Jody

P.S. Almost forgot to tell you about “Pulicidae” (“Pooh” for short) our little five month old alley cat. He’s yellow, gray, and black striped and quite a character. Pete really does like him, Mom. Don’t forget he’s almost as chronic an animal lover as myself. Pooh eats any kind of scrap we give him – toast, cake crumbs, cheese – so feeding him isn’t a problem. We’re now getting milk for 40 cents a gallon so we don’t have to scrimp on milk or cream.

Previous Letters Home: 

~  ~ 


  
Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.

  

 
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Saturday, July 8, 2023

An Interview with Ohio Author Jennifer Geiger

 

An Interview with Ohio Author Jennifer Geiger

The author of three titles, I first met Jennifer in 2021 at our first book fair in Nelsonville, Ohio. From Jennifer’s bio:

Jennifer Geiger was born in Kansas, the daughter of an oil company dispatcher. Because of her father’s job the family moved several times. The last move was during her elementary years when it brought her to Ohio. She has three grown daughters, eight grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. Jennifer has been married over thirty-three years to her husband, Jim. As a child, she was an avid storyteller and often entertained family and friends with various adventures created by the characters they supplied. As she approached adulthood, her passion for storytelling waned, it wasn’t until after she married and had her own family that her desire to create stories returned.

Encouraged on by her younger brother, Jennifer picked up her pen and completed her first novel; Witness; a story about the Apostle John from his view of living life with Jesus. Witness was followed with an eight-session video and workbook series created to place the reader into the shoes of the Apostle John, allowing them to experience first-hand, life with Jesus through the eyes of the disciple He loved. Following the Witness series, Jennifer produced Patmos, a story that picks up where Witness ends and allows the reader to see the adventures of John, as he is exiled and receives a special revelation from God. Her latest endeavor, The Blah Mobile, released in June of 2022 is a children’s story teaching about the hardship of being nice when others are not.

Welcome, Jennifer!

GM: What is the premise for your new book, The Blah Mobile?
JG: It’s the story of a little girl (age 8) who learns how to be nice when others are not. You’ll read how she handles the situation by inviting a child, throwing insults at her into her space, allowing second chances to take place.

GM: Who is your target audience/niche market?
JG: I’m homing in on children from ages seven to age twelve, but could be read to children even younger.
 
GM: What would you like readers to take away from your story?
JG: Being nice is a learning tool and not always easy. However, it is always the best action not only for the other person, but for yourself.
 
GM: Describe your creative space and where you like to write...
JG:  I carry a pad of paper with me to be ready to jot down any thoughts that come to mind that I can use in my stories. Other than that, when I’m ready to write I retreat to a room in the back of my house. It’s where I go to read, pray and to write. My desk and computer are located there. I like things quiet, makes for less distraction that way.
 
GM: What are you currently reading?
JG: I like historical fiction, and Christian mysteries. Currently I’m ready “David” by Chuck Swindoll.

GM: What are you currently writing?
JG: Several short stories centering around the lives of some of the people Jesus healed. For example, one of the stories tell what might have taken place in the life of the thief who hung on the cross next to Jesus. The one who cried out for Jesus to remember him when He came into his kingdom. The fictious story tells how he came to be the “thief” hanging next to Jesus.

GM: Do you have advice for novice writers?
JG:  Writing is a process, and it takes time. Don’t give up. If you have the inkling to write, then do it. Even if you don’t publish it right away, stay focused and keep writing.

GM: List 10 things your fans may not know about you...
JG:  
  1. I love God first and foremost
  2. Then I love the USA.
  3. I’m very family oriented.
  4. I’m active in my church, and the family there is also very important.        
  5. I love to write and create stories.       
  6. I enjoy putting puzzles together.
  7. I don’t bake as much as I used to, but still enjoy the smell of homemade cookies.     
  8. I’m an organizer, rather it be the kitchen pantry or the upcoming potluck meal.    
  9. I like to encourage people and help them develop their skills.        
  10. I’ve been blessed with three daughters, eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Connect with Jennifer:
or follow her on Facebook at:
Facebook.com/jennifergeigerauthor





       

    

 

 

             

 

 

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