Corn Fields in Southern Mexico

I haven't posted in 7 months but tonight do or die I will post a few things of the past week. Later I will post some pics by themes rather than by date. Two days ago we had a tour of our corn fields with top officials including a Under-secretary of Agriculture [back row left is Ernesto with under-secretary in the middle] who was extremely pleased with not only the corn but the enthusiasm of the field agronomists, farmer and especially wives of the farmers. This is what drives me -- to see joy and happiness in the faces and lives of the common people, the ones that could be considered the least important normally. It seems so impossible why none of the competition (or anyone else) sees the truth of what we are doing but we in all rreality have no competition. Maybe the answer is in a question the Under-secretary asked us: "how do you all get the people so convinced, motivated and excited about following your advice?" The answer to that is where the magic really is. We believe in our hearts that what we do is vital and correct. And we then talk heart to heart to them. [see my quote in the next blog about what my Mom taught me in my youth] .

........... In the 4th pic our field is on the left at an Experiment Station with the gov'ts prised researchers going toe to toe with us. This INIFAP organization has been fighting us for 15 years saying we have not validated anything that we are doing. And we tell them we are NOT doing basic research but are applying knowledge in a production setting to improve NET profits. Even though theirs was planted before ours they will not even come close to 50% of our yield.
........One of the most interesting situation is with Doña Emilia, a Maya from Campeche, who farms 275 acres (extremely ambitious since all her neighbors farm only around 25-30 acres) with her husband and daughters with only one tractor they recently obtained with gov't participation. She increased her plant density from the normal of 20-25,000 plants per acre (detail is for Jason's benefit) to our desired level of 35-40,000 plants. On one 2.5 acre field she decided to do what we had talked about --that of having 2 rows per bed. But normally then with 2 rows we have a few less per row which spreads the plants out so none are on top of each other competing for nutrients and water. She decided to run planter two times across this 2.5 acres but did not reduce rate and so she ended up with 80 to 85,000 plants per acre. [Jason notice that the rows are 18" apart] If we can help her fill out all the ears of corn she will surely have a record yield. We are doubling all recommendations and all effort. We would never ourselves recommend such a high rate since a failure would hurt us and everyone but since it was her idea we can only benefit from the experience. I wish i could play her recorded interview b/c she has such a huge believing heart and optimistic faithful attitude that it is infectious. She beams with her smile like her when she feed us all after the tour.

The Newest Baby Dolls

On February 9th on Sunday I visited Brand New Mamma Em to see what treasure her Mom had dispatched down to her is such a wonderful way. The atmoshere in the Diehl household seemed like one of experienced parents without a worry or concern. I suppose Bek's arrival 4 days earlier helped keep things on and even keel. Becky had planned on going for months and Emilee was excited to have big sis come and offer moral support and words of experience. If you remember it was Em that drove like a speed demon to get Bek to the hospital one hour away for her first born, Jeb. (A flashback: A single and a not-yet-mother were frantically calling our cell phone wondering what to do when the new arrival had caught George away on school business but not being able to console with anyone Em got Becky loaded in the car and behind the wheel. She sped like no one else exsisted in the world except them and thier mission: "Oh Get Me to the Church on Time...."). You will see here the what treasure was sent from above. (In this blog intry I will make no attempt to line up text with picture since is generally takes hours by trial and error to line up everything.) Little Eliza is 9 days old in most of the pictures and has the most amazing facial expressions of any baby I have ever seen so young! On Monday we hang out in the house and it was the most relaxing fun time being with the girls and their two girls. I was able to get these good shots since i had nearly two days to do it. I gnenerally don't hold the new borns until they are old enough to not break if I wouold happen to drop them. But in holding Eliza it was like holding onto a relay baton, one that had just been passed on to us by your Mom. It was like being able to sit in the same chair where a famous celebrity had just sat jsut to hold her!!!
Well I am going to try something new to include some movie clips made in Picasa from the stills I took on this day. The very last frame if little Dorothy I submitted to a Baby Photo Contest (from a spam email I got the very day i edited the photo) for a chance to win her $2500 this month. Now I still don't know if I regret it but it look like we all have to login to vote for her so that she can win. Now I haven't fully checked it out to see if you all would be vulnerable to more ad emails or not. So am I a proud grandpa who thinks one of his grandkids could be crowned the the world's cutest baby. Or am I a gulible fool who is also a proud grandpa!?
(Editor's note: since it is late I won't put the rest of the photos in now and since when I leave this now it goes to the blog whether unjfinished or not-----more later plus proof reading)

Catalina Island with Jarom

Well I have some catching up to do. I still have 4 or 5 trips to report on. It seemed like even though I have done some very fun things this year like visit everyone but Jarom. I have seen him several times going and coming and hounding him on dating that it was time to plan a trip for the sole purpose of playing with no events dates. (I am trying to say I usually do things when invited or there is a deadline to make--you all know me well enough to know that is true). Why do I make a big deal of this because actually I am quite proud of myself for pulling this little trip off. I told Jarom that we need a play day soon and what do you suggest. He said what about Catalina Island so i booked resevations for the only day he and I could go -- Friday 29th of Aug. It was a delightful day with no commitments, no deadlines, no have to do this or do that just roll with the flippin punches!! I did take the opportunity to visit Denny Thur afternoon since Jarom worked until 10 pm. Visiting Denny was fortutious since he just developed a new product especially for corn and is 10x better than all the others combined. He shipped me a pallet which I may have to return from Guadalajara (which BTW is where I am writing this from). We got up about 6 am fri. to make 8:30 ferry boat (hi speed jet catamaran behind jarom). That boat ride was fun in and of itself. It is a triple decker with inside or completely outside decks. It makes about 6-7 one hour trips all day long. Four different ports service the island so there were tons of people but not really crowded. That is the Queen mary behind me top left. Top right is the Avalon Bay on Catalina. I met people from Iran, Japan, Europe somewhere by volunteering to take their picture so all could be in picture.

When we got there we rented bikes and rode all over the place and found the good spots to do things later like snorkeling. There is a big historic Casino Theater. I found out much fun riding a bike is but that I could not do any hill what so ever. I am sure my heart max out the heart rate several times. I wasn't the only one tired Jarom had to reat on a tree trunk. I will add some pics taken with a disposable underwater camera that are very grainy but still pretty good considering. That is Gold Garibaldy fish. I took my Canon elph pocket camera but I didn't want Jarom to risk damage or loosing his. A person could do this trip several times and find different situations. Right now they have extended the deer hunting because of excess deer due to feed situations. since it is a closed environment they monitor everything completely. So if anyone is interested in hunting I can get you information. It would be a cool hunt. I the island is only 3-4 miles long but total mountains. No escape though so if there is a deer there you will see it and you will get it.

The nature of the island makes everything close and compact. I tried to get into my wetsuit but could not pull it on. I had to grin and bear the cold water. Ten feet out the floor drops and seaweed starts. The fish are so used to folks that they were everywhere. It was pretty cool. I mean with in 50 feet we had beach, deep water, boats anchored, snorkleing, sea-doos, swimming, jagged rocks at a bluff and open water.

Brazilian Wedding in Botucatu, SP

Our trip to Brazil was wonderful. I fell in love with the country and the people. Especially Don Miguel & Marlene Vendramini. Of course you already knew I fell in love with Patricia clear back in March. We were treated royally. Even though it was supposed to the dry Winter it was neither cold nor dry but green and very clean. They are very organized, methodical and orderly. We felt completely reassured that we were being taken care of and travel timing completely calculated. For more photos see http://picasaweb.google.com/Bryan.Ells/2008BrazilBotucatu
Botucatu (120,000) is 3 hrs from Sao Paulo on a beautiful Interstate Rd. considered large rural city but yet where everyone knows the Vendraminis. Marlene is the most vivacious person I know and a fabulous cook. I gained 10 lbs in 3 days eating 3-4 squares per day. We waited to eat dessert one night after going to the wedding preparation and it was like a feast in and of itself.
The Wedding was like out of a Fairy Tale story of the maiden kissing an Arizona frog and turning him into Prince Charming and her into the Princess at the Palace Gala Ball. It was amazing how an enchanting little princess could charm an old frog into a bald headed Prince Charming. Notice that the figurines on the cake were designed to be spittin images of the bride & groom. I think they did an excellent job. The affair consisted of sitting the 275 guests at their assigned tables awaiting the Pomp & Circumstance. The frog had not seen the little Princess in all her grandeur until her father paraded her down the rose pedal strewn aisle thru a tunnel of drapes & colored light to the altar beside the awaiting now mystically transformed frog, the prince/groom. This was all very touching to say the least. The ceremony was pronounced by the LDS Branch President. The BP introduced the couple and taught about celestial marriage and eternal families & corresponding responsibilities. After the reception Don Miguel asked if I had understood ceremony sermon. I thought I had pretty much understood. He said get Patrick to translate it for you b/c it was touching and beautiful. He now considers the BP is best new friend!! More Wedding photos http://picasaweb.google.com/Bryan.Ells/2008BrazilWedding All evening they brought around hordurves and drinks of pineapple frapee or guarana soda (like fruity apple-its an energy drink up here). Then a full Brazilian buffet. The whole was video taped and professional photographed which will be made availble to Patrickia soon. You would have all loved it!! For sure. I not sure what we could of overwhelmed them with the size of our family but it sure would have been fun. You all have not been privileged to get to know Patricia like Joe & did down in Miami ...she is a Real Princess by the way and a reception is not the place for one on one either. You would have been proud of the bird watcher b/c he charmed all those Brazilians (young ladies).
photos of the rest of the trip will follow.

Los Tres Amigos

-We are the Three Amigos ''Los Tres Amigos. Many have heard of me talking about Ernesto. Ernesto Miramontes is the short one, the University professor that worked with me directly in 97-99. I can identify directly with him in so many ways. He is extremely respectful and considerate and very inteligent. He knows something about everything in this world. The tall one is Ernesto Cruz that I met in 1989 in San Luis as a customer of Probioticos. Then in early 1993 he invited me to come to Guadalajara after he moved there to work on a very large project. It was he that was the creative one that got so much going to help small farmer produce more; whom I suported for 4 years before he was hired away and I took his place in Jan 1997.

In the 1st we are "sucking it in" trying to see who is most like we were 10 years ago "when we were all thin and no grey hare". I got that hat cause I got burnt the day before and I always wanted a big sombreo-two of the field guys had these local traditional types. In the next pic we are trying to prove who has "paunch bragging rights".

It is amazing how much fun and laughter we have while we work on this enornously big projects. It is one constant gut wrenching laugh. This has been indeed theraputic for me. My most rewarding work has been with these two. We have been extremely famous all over Mexico, each alone on our own merits but more importantly together. More on the actual project later.

Miami Spring Breaking --13 March 2008

For me a trip to Miami and The Keys was significant even if it was crowded with all the Spring Breakers. The thought of going to Florida had never entered my head until Pat moved there. With the intense desire to meet Pat's fiance Patricia that became the when. Fortunately it coincided with Sam's graduation gift to Joe. Everyone knows Pat is a devout bird watcher (go to his web sight http://www.bio.miami.edu/pze/index.html). Joe and I also became birdwatchers watching those two birds- lovebirds. Pat hasn't ever cut the girls any slack but this was the first time I have seen anyone hold their own with him. Now she can put him at a loss of words-- a 1st. Now back to the trip during Spring Break, since I am still the Dad, it is important for me to protect my kids from harm & danger. So my original plan was to scope out any beaches all by myself for any visual harm that might come to my kids. But dangit I never got to do my job. When we arrived at the beach I was way too slow for those long legged juveniles. Fortunately for them Pat had strict instructions from Sam to not let Joe go near South Beach. We stayed at beach a little north of Key West 200 miles from So Beach and any visual harm. So I was feeling pretty good about keeping my kids safe until the last day when we were like penguins standing on the edge 2 inches above the water each trying to be the closest to get the best pictures of the 5-6 ft. alligators (seen here) when one lurking out of sight under the small ones (5 footers) suddenly broke the surface. Its eyes were 12" apart and could have eaten 2-3 of us at one time. He had to have been a 15 footer maybe even a 40 footer. (40 just for effect of putting my point across of HUGH). Patricia got it all on video. As we realized walking away what had just happened we all got scared and I realized instead of keeping them from harm I was right in the middle of the pack. On 1st day Joe got toasted b/c he said he needed evidence for fellow Boeingers who never see the sun all year that he had in fact found some sun.
Some random comments on the trip: 1) We were on the go the entire time eating out of an ice chest as we went. All four us stayed in the same small tent--1st off that is a 7 footer and two 6 1/2 footers plus a pint size lady. 2nd was the Dad supposed to be snoring in between the two lovebirds just to make things at least half kosher? 3rd we had to tie a string to the little lady so the mosquitoes wouldn't carry her off. We were like kids holding on to a balloon. But they do have good taste since she is awfully dang pretty. But Pat is the only one who can truthfully speak to the good taste however!! 4th had we known on Saturday when we were a stone's throw from Cuba what we found out on Tuesday morning on the way to the airport we would have preferred the alligator, the mosquitos, the sun toasted hides or even the visual damage to our souls that we some how missed out on. On Tuesday after we had changed a bubbled tire on the way back from alligator alley the night before we had the donut spare go flat then a few more miles the bubbled tire back on another tire went flat. So out of 5 tires we had 2 good ones left (well that is not entirely true since they were just as bald as the others). Had this happened down at Key West any of our other perils just mentioned would have been preferred to the Cuban commies, thugs, hurricanes or drunken spring breakers we would have had to contend with way down yonder.
The chapel has a spectacular view on the harbor and made out of coral limestone. Everyone is jealous as heck of Pat at church.
Joe says "Kiss her Pat for a pic" so Pat goes "You mean like this?" Joe says: "well do you think I am going to show you how!!"

Famous Connections

Hey Kids,

Look who we are related to:

Bryan Ellsworth is Joseph Smith's 9^th Cousin once removed

Thomas White The Father –B. 1490 Somerset, UK – 1549 England
Thomas White 1524 - 1551 Somerset, England	Siblings	Richard White 1516 Somerset, Eng – 1617 England
John White 1663 Virginia – 1781 Georgia	1st Cousins	Robert White 1542 Somerset UK – 1600 Essex, England
Jeremiah White 1695 Georgia – 1781 Georgia	2nd Cousins	Robert White 1560 Essex UK – 1642 Somerset, England
Millie White 1739 Georgia - ? Georgia	3rd Cousins	Mary White 1590 Essex – 1642 Connecticut
Elizabeth Cleveland 1782 So Carolina 1825 Arkansas	4th Cousins	Sarah Loomis 1617 Essex – 1689 Connecticut
Nathan Wanslee 1804 Georgia – 1887 Arkansas	5th Cousins	Sarah Olmstead 1641 Conn. – 1709 Connecticut
Jesse Wanslee 1837 Georgia – 1908 Safford, AZ	6th Cousins	Daniel Gates 1680 Conn. – 1751 Connecticut
Mary Wanslee 1875 Arkansas – 1959 Safford, AZ	7th Cousins	Daniel Gates ? Conn. – 1775 Vermont
Reed Ellsworth 1916 Safford, AZ – 1960 Williams, AZ	8th Cousins	Lydia Gates 1732 Conn. – 1817 Vermont
Bryan Ellsworth 1946 Safford, AZ - 2032	9th Cousins	Lucy Mack 1775 New Hamp. – 1856 Nauvoo, IL
	Once removed	Joseph Smith, Jr. 1805 Vermont – 1844 Carthage, IL

3/2/08 Washington for Elijah Z

The 1st of my 2008 galevanting was to Jason and Lisa's for Eli's blessing on March 2nd. Doyle flew me to Las Vegas on Thur pm and then on Allegiant Air to Pasco. Jason apologized for not doing very much but let me tell you what we did do. Grandpa was able to witness morning prayers and breakfast 4 times. Then there was scripture reading every night - one full page. Now this is interesting b/c I have been to Twin Falls and Ames and it was no different scripture and prayers every night. Now that is gratifying to know and to watch the kids grow in scripture reading. Sometimes games were played but always to bed on time. I am impressed b/c I know how hard it was for us when you kids were growing up. In looking back several years I remember when Ethan could only sound out the easy words now its Nathanael turn to repeat back the words. On Monday night it was Nathanael's turn for FHE. As far as I could see the only help he got was he asked me about a story in The Friend, which I gave him minor suggestions. He did a marvelous job for a 5 yr old-it was about a 10-15 min. lesson. Now why do I tell you this? Obviously that Grandpa is impressed goes without saying. Now when Lisa and Jason relate their stories & happenings I can identify whith the personalities because I saw the whole family morning noon and night for several days. But no I didn't see the salmon jumping the fish ladders! However, I did witness the spirit of their home.
Elijah's blessing was choice by specifically mentioning why he was named Elijah Zollinger Ellsworth. First, for one of the most valiant and important Old Testament prophets and second for his Grandmother whom his mother stated she was sure his Grandmother had been tending him before he was born. Upon hearing that my heart confirmed that impression. You just have to wonder as to the extent of that tending knowing about all the trouble Lisa had in getting with child! I was certainly touched by the whole occasion and especially b/c I really know that on these kinds of occasions someone special to us all was close and looking in on us.
Lisa has told you in her blog what we did and what we ate and who was there. Getting to know my own kids and their spouses better is very important but the delectable treat are the grandkids. To really get to know & understand kids you have see them morning noon and night, happy & sad, excited and disappointed, being both rewarded and disciplined. By summer I will have been with everyone in their own home doing their own things and will have had these same blessings of seeing your mother and my posterity.
Love, Dad / Grandppa

Peer Pressure & Keep up with the Jones

Kids,
I guess I have to keep up with the jones and create my own blog too. I went to a class on Genealogy blogging at the Family History seminar where I learned some cool things. I an creating my RSS News Reader page in Google where all you blogs will be summarized on my page. It will tell me when entries have been added and which ones I have read. It will updates from LDS.org, New Family Search, weather for everybody, Meridian Mag. Anyway my own newspaper. I might even have my latest carving or something. Well more later.
Dad