This frustrated old lady would like to show you a close-up picture of the plumbing mess in landlady’s carport. However, I’m cautious about my trips across the driveway. I usually “go” when someone else arrives because of “safety in numbers.” (Landlady always has some nasty remark!! She’s “nasty” to everyone!)

My “inside my trailer home” refrigerator has not been repaired. RV repairmen have been here three (3) times and still “don’t know” (or “don’t care”?). Yesterday–going to the refrigerator in the laundry room–I discovered the floor was covered with water. I grabbed old sheets and mattress covers to soak up the water (covers used over plants when we have freezing weather). Early this morning (because I couldn’t sleep due to concern about plumbing problems) I explored the laundry room for “shut off” for the water heater. Explanation (as I see the situation): Water is constantly leaking so water is constantly entering the tank. The electric element is constantly “working” to heat the water. I surmise that will affect my electric bill. The electric panel does not have a breaker for the water heater so I “flipped the switch” for the washer. I’ll check frequently to see if the water tank continues to be blistering-hot to the touch.

A Rainbow’s End RV Park “old timer” told me these places were built by the owners (and/or their friends/neighbors) and nothing “to code.” It’s ludicrous (to me) that shut-offs were not installed when plumbing (and water heaters) went in. Goodness knows how old this water heater is and (I speculate) it just couldn’t handle the water pressure when water was turned off, and on, several times. “Domino effect.”

Yesterday, I soaked the ground in the areas where I think I’ll find the main plumbing line. I’ll dig for awhile this (early) morning while reasonably cool. If need be, I’ll hire a professional plumber to put in a water shut-off to this property.

The mind is willing, the body is weak!! I was not able to get past the tree roots. The “spade” isn’t the tool for the project and a saber saw is needed to cut the roots. Defeated, I had to walk away. So I mopped up water in the laundry room and turned my back on the digging project.

Yes, I spent the entire morning in the yard. I was “testing, testing” the water heater, washing machine, etc., while carefully watching the fire. First: Water off to the water heater and mopped up the water. Second: When floor was dry, I turned the water on again. Third: The start of another flood so turned the water off again (to water heater). In between, I checked to see if  I could siphon the water from the heater by starting washing machine requesting “hot.” (Sometimes I’m working “by guess and by golly.”) “No,”  the washer just allowed cold water only. Fourth: I guess we’ll be doing our laundry with cold water (because “they” won’t invest in a new water heater)!! ~~ I went back to digging… and used clippers to get rid of some of the roots. Tough job so I took a break for lunch–and this blog.

Yup, Lorraine is old enough to remember “Sam Spade.”  Today she affectionately praised her companion for a detective job well done!!

Twenty-three years and counting!! Not the popular DBA kit.

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Twenty-three years ago (in early June), I put the “hard copy“ publication titled Frantz Families–Kith & Kin in the hands of “cousins” and several libraries with emphasis on genealogy (LDS Family History Center, Allen County Public Library, Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society). Twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-seven years ago, I was physically in mentioned libraries searching for information about the Frantz family and collateral lines. As indicated in many of my blog messages, now I sit in the comfort of my home and continue to research the Frantz family and collateral lines. Ancestry.com and Family Search are awesome resources for “armchair researchers.”

God was passing out brains and one recipient thought he heard “trains.” The response: “I’ll take a slow one.”

Yours truly was “climbing the family tree.”  The noise was steady–and loud–and caused a monster headache. I would venture out into the heat and humidity to take telephoto pictures. My sympathy went out to the poor contractor working in heat, humidity and standing water!! Working with family history, I consider every individual; I “weigh” the evidence; I don’t recklessly add names to my database.

Yours truly cannot understand why landlady’s stepson didn’t proceed with a water shutoff BEFORE tearing up the concrete in the carport. Instead, the contractor endured a mess; neighbors were inconvenienced when the water was (eventually, approximately 4:00 PM) turned off at the well. “Stepson”  did not alert neighbors to the shutoff and I couldn’t help myself. I thought of that saying about “brains” and “trains.”

I questioned “where’d he go?”  He wasn’t gone long and was still working (wading in water) at 5:30. “Wading in water”  because I saw close up when I walked over to join an inconvenienced neighbor (inconvenienced neighbor without water). ~~ Sitting at my computer, with windows in front of me and on each side, I see people arriving and departing.

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The water is off again, without warning.

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“Stupid old lady” needs to keep her mouth shut. Time and circumstance indicate her knowledge and suggestions are not welcome (in a man’s world).

(1) The weather has been disagreeable. (2) My efforts are not appreciated regarding the plumbing problem next door and updating data about “Deep Well #2.” For two days (fifteen hours each), I “climbed the family tree.” With my head  in the branches, among the leaves, I am oblivious to the “outside world.” However, there are continuing, nagging problems from “being hacked” and I’ve forced myself to dig into paperwork. My depressions were heightened as I searched my “important papers.” That box contains so many negative memories.

Just thought I’d “touch base” and then hasten back to my other computer and continue a combination glad and sad project. Back story: When I called a friend-“cousin” to wish her a happy birthday, the phone was no longer in service. I emailed a genealogy acquaintance and her brief reply said my dear, dear friend-“cousin” passed away several months ago. She wasn’t ill, everything was fine. In the comfort of her home, at the dining room table (doing genealogy?), she went home to be with Jesus–and her husband who preceded her by several years. “Dear, dear friend cousin” was extremely helpful while I was compiling information about Frantz Families–Kith & Kin. This would be a long, long blog message if I listed all the things she (and her husband) did for me over the years. Bottom line: I am thoroughly documenting her ancestry. It is time-consuming because of many men and women with the same name, same location. Furthermore, source records (like Census) are full of misspelling. Felix appears as “Philis,” David appears as “Davis.” Each possible record needed to be analyzed for location and dates. Ancestry Member Family Trees list details after the person is deceased.  “Glad”  I can do this project for a friend; “sad”  to lose a family friend who shared my love of family.

Yours truly missed the anniversary yesterday. Frankly, I didn’t hear about the milestone because the media seems devoted to the seventy-fifth anniversary of the invasion of Normandy, France. “Normandy”… and President Trump visiting Queen Elizabeth and all the pomp and ceremony in London. ~~ Women with a voice plus the price paid for our freedom, by our servicemen. God bless America!