Remembering my Dad

Milford Clayton Erickson
March 6, 1907 - Sept. 2, 1987

On this date in 1907 my dad, Milford Clayton Erickson, was born in Glenwood, Minnesota to Albert and Sophia (Stenson) Erickson.  He was their second child and joined his older brother Almer Pomeroy, who was two years old.  In 1912 the family moved to Canada, settling in Swift Current where Grandpa worked for the Ford Motor Co.  The above picture postcard was dated March 25, 1913.  Perhaps it was taken on Dad's 6th birthday!  Grandma wrote on very few pictures but had sent this one to her brother Nels and her folks, who were homesteading near Echo Post Office where the card was addressed.  A one cent stamp was all it needed a hundred years ago.

Almer and Dad went to Elmwood School when it opened in 1914.  Little did Milford know that fifty years later his daughter Elaine would be teaching a class of grade one and twos at that very same school.  Dad went back to Swift Current and visited Elmwood at a school reunion.  I had planned to attend as well but was unable to go because of a funeral.

Another significant fact about Swift Current - it's where Howard and I met on March 8, 1965!  I see that Swift Current is celebrating 100 years as a city next year - June 27 to July1.  I really should plan on attending that event.

Here are a few more pictures that were taken during the two years that the family spent in the city before moving to the Frontier area.  Grandma bought a Kodak camera before they moved to Canada and developed and printed her own pictures for many years.  We are blessed to have so many pictures of their early years in Saskatchewan.

The boys with their toys
(Alan has the train engine, now a lamp)

Almer, Muriel Nordgaarden, Dad, Ernie Nordgaarden
(Grandpa made this sled like a big bob sled and
a note says that it would hold 4 grown ups or 6 children)

Dad in the centre, Almer to the back left, friends in Swift Current

 I really should have made a chocolate cake or a pie today, two of Dad's favourites, but I made oatmeal cookies instead.  Tomorrow I'll cook up date filling for them.

This afternoon the RM snowblower came down and cleaned out the driveway so I am not "stormstayed" any longer.  I guess I'll go to town tomorrow, get the mail and maybe pay a visit.  I have an appointment in Estevan on Friday afternoon.  The lockdown is over at St. Joseph's so I will visit Aunt Viola after her nap.  Here's a picture taken from the living-room window of the scenic icicles hanging from the eaves.

Picturesque icicles coated with snow
March 4, 2013

Four quilters were able to get to the church on Tuesday after the storm.  They have informed us that there are no more quilt tops!  I have been working on some this week, have three ready to go and a couple under construction.  I'm working on crib quilts now as I found suitable fabric amongst my "stash"

A crib quilt of denim and flannel

Denim and "cowboy" prints