The Culver Family Blog

Worcester Telegram:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/telegram/obituary.aspx?n=james-k-culver-bope&pid=144597224

James K. “Bope” Culver
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James K. “Bope” Culver, 86, passed away Saturday August 7, 2010 at home with caring loved ones at his side. Born in Syracuse, N.Y. on August 23, 1923, he was the son of Kenneth J. and Lucienne Culver.

Jim leaves his wife of 64 years, Kathleen A. (Sykes) Culver; sons, Kenneth and wife Judy, Raymond, and James B. and wife Alta all of Barre; daughters, Lynn and husband Peter Zukas of Sturbridge and Lana Culver of Seattle, Washington; grandchildren, James E. Culver, his loving caregiver for many years and wife Debra, Michael Culver and wife Jessica, Jeffery Zukas and Jessica Zukas. He was also the proud great grandfather, “Bope” To Cassidy, Zachary, Dylan, Cole and Jocelyn. James was predeceased by his sister Paulette.

Jim served in the US Army, 2nd Cavalry Troop C Reconnaissance Squadron. He was wounded September 30, 1944 at Bathelemont, France for which he received the Purple Heart on October 21, 1944.

Jim worked many years in the Barre Wool Combing Company, while dairy farming at home. He enjoyed hunting, gardening, military history, cutting cord wood and in his last years just being at home on the farm viewing his barn and garden. He was very appreciative of the care given to him over the last few years.

A Graveside service will be held on Saturday August 14, 2010 at 10:00 AM in Glen Valley Cemetery, Barre, MA with Military Honors. Donations may be made in his name to the American Cancer Society , 7 Oak St., Worcester, MA 01609.

I just recently got this recipe from one of my cookbooks and I wanted to share it because it makes the most delicious quick pickels that will stay good in the frige for weeks! They are crispy and good like a Clausen pickle! I have tried canning them and will report back later on how they turn out, but I make them in the jars even if I don’t can them because it is easiest.

4-6 pickling Cucumbers
1 cup white-wine vinegar
1/4 cup sugar (I only use 2 Tbsp. because I don’t like them as sweet)
3 Tbsp. coarse salt
1 tsp. dill seed (I also add fresh dill to the container and a few peppercorns)
2 crushed & peeled garlic cloves
2 cups water

Quarter cucumbers lengthwise, then place in a large bowl. In a medium saucepan, combine all the other ingredients. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar and salt dissolve; pour mixture over cucumbers.

Use a small plate to submerge cucumbers in liquid. Refrigerate until cool, at least 2 hours. Pickles can be refrigerated in a airtight container up to 2 weeks.

Makes 1 quart.

Thanks all for being a part of the big day.  Your presence was appreciated and added to the pleasure had by all!!  If you all have photos, as I took very few, I’d love you to email them to me or post them in such a way that I can get them onto my computer….please remember I’m nominally computer literate.

Meet my two new babies, Flora & Fauna. Fauna I found at the Beverly Shelter in Waterloo and Flora I just picked up last night from Northern Vermont. Flora is a 1/2 Himalayan and 1/2 Bengal mix. They are both complete trouble and so far they keep hissing at each other. I’m hoping since they are so young though, they’ll get over it quick! They were playing together this AM, so hopefully they’ll be good sisters!

In other news, my wonderful father came out this weekend to help me plant my garden. We didn’t get the whole garden done, because I had him help me with a bunch of other projects around the property. The biggest project was installing an underground hose all the way to my garden. My garden is 200′ from my house, so trying to drag 200′ of hose in and out each time it needs water is almost impossible to do solo. So now, I have a buried hose that comes out right at the edge! I’m so very excited about this, it has already made life easier up there! I still have to plant the second half, but it’s 2/3 done. Then, onto my containers…. whew, too much to do, too little time!

Since Erin was big on planning, I thought I should too. Although my garden is a lot harder to plan!  But I did it!

Plans include: Zucchini, Summer Squash, Cucumbers, Red Onions, Parsley, Rosemary, Dill, Bush beans, Potatoes, spinach, sage, peppers, sugar snap peas, carrots, edamame, pole beans, strawberries, eggplants, basil, tomatoes, corn and pumpkins!

I’ve just started my pepper seeds and need to start the tomatoes soon.  I also started a garden journal this year!

garden_plan

The Culver family gets a C+ for popularity.

Ranking: ’Culver’ is the 1,915th most common last name.
Popularity: 48% of people have more common names. (Grade: C+)
Number: Around 17,231 Culvers live in the US.
Change: The Culvers fell 92 places over a recent 10-year period.
Competition: The Albrechts and Blums compete with the Culvers for #1,915.

I never would have thought our name was that common!