In Loving Memory of my Father

    The pictures I am putting on this blog...some of them are part of my history, before my Father was born..most of the pictures are from slides that my Dad took.  They are photos of things he enjoyed, life, family, friends, relatives...he loved all of that.  He loved farming (well maybe not so much).  He always wanted to be a Park Ranger...he loved the outdoors, mother nature, wildlife...and water.

My Dad had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh.  I never remember him ever raising his voice in anger.  I do however remember always getting into trouble of some kind or another, and probably trying his patience.  I also remember getting my butt whooped on only two occassions.  Once when my cousin and I were riding our horses around the farm (this was not a small farm), we stopped to play in the haystackes and then feel asleep.   Now when you are on a farm...which can be quite big and you don't come home for supper...well every farmer is out there looking for you.  As the story was told to me...they came looking seen the horses grazing, the haystack moving...and boy were we in trouble.  The other time was when I took my sisters makeup...and of course played crayons with it...I was never much for sitting around then...still don't.  Fidgety girl I am.

I remember still when I was a baby...(grin)...my Dad used to put my feet in his hands and balance me up in the air...I always thought I could fly...I still have all the old movies of him on the farm. I still think I can fly and reach the sky....  My Mom and Dad ran the farm and my Grandparents used to come up every summer for a few months and help out.   My Grandpa stayed with us for a few years after his wife (My Grandma) died.  My Grandpa remarried and moved to Poulsbo, Washington.  When I was six we moved to Campbell River, and I lived there until I was 16.  My parents used to drive us to Victoria every summer drop my sister and I off on the Blackball ferry to Port Angeles, and my Grandparents picked us up and we spent the whole summer in Poulsbo then came back home for school in September.  It was awesome.  I made many friends there, and loved the summers...and my parents got a break from us kids every year.  I remember candy corn from my grandpa, and picking raspberries in the garden...and eating them right off the stocks.  I remember going to my Uncle Walters and Aunt Elviras and learning about rocks. ..yes he was a rock hound.  We made necklaces and braclets out of some pretty cool stones.  Agates and the like, we would polish them up...and make something from it.  I also remember he never used to change the time on his clocks ever...It was a great experience for me.  It's stuff I learned from my Grandfather, my Uncles and my Dad...

SHORT FAMILY HISTORY

My Great Grandfather Frank E. Brown went to Calgary, Alberta in October of 1904.  He had read wonderful stories about the Canadian Northwest.  During the World's Fair at St. Louis, he saw an exhibit of what could be grown there.  He purchased a ticket and made a trip as far north as Red Deer, Alberta.  He rode the train and from what he saw he liked the land around Carstairs and didsbury, Acme more.   He went to a real estate agent made a trip to dog pound creek (gesh) and made a deal buying section 26-30-27 W4th of 6.10 per acre (if I only knew), He also homesteaded a quarter section south of Green Acre School (where do these names come from).

He moved the family to Alberta in the spring of 1905.  My Grandfather Leonard Brown moved with my Grandmother Mary Brown in April 11, along with my uncle Walter, Aunt Grance.
My Great Grandmothers folks were Holland dutch and English,  My Great Grandfather was Scottish and Irish.. 
So My Father Doulgas Brown was Dutch, English, Scottish and Irish....
My Mother is Polish and Ukranian...
Me...I am a mixed bag....(grin).

My Granfather was Born February 1st 1891
My Father was an only Child he was born January 11th 1923.

My Great Grandparents farmed cattle, turkeys...and grew wheat...and vegtables.
My Grandfather liked mostly the cattle and wheat...
My Father who was born in the house that they lived in...wanted off the farm...
He always wanted to be a Park Ranger...he met my Mother they lived on the farm until I was 6 and then moved To Campbell River.
So that is a wee bit of history.

So this is for All Dads..or who have Dads...or will be a Dad....Happy Fathers day to all of you...

I miss my Dad very much as I never got to know him really well...but I remember so much about his humor, and his voice and his smile.
I remember so much through his films...and now through his eyes at his photos...
So come with me...and see the world through the eyes of Douglas Brown......

Thanks for the memories Dad....
I miss you Dad...Happy Fathers day....