From a friend,

…a picture she saw (on her travels) and it reminded her of Lorraine.

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Exercise routine

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With 20/20 hindsight, the flowers might look better in sunshine but, visually, they are spectacular in early morning shade. In the afternoon, in sunshine, they quickly wilt. When I water…, I think the plants–with blooms–say “thank you.” ~~ With new glasses, things (everywhere) look more spectacular. ~~ But new glasses don’t make me any smarter. I was up on the ladder cutting down a limb (rubbing the roof).

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“Sad” the blooms only last a few hours. However, tomorrow morning there will be a dozen, or more, new blooms.

Nancy Drew (type) mystery !!

Aug5

The following is the comment I attached to an individual in my Ancestry family tree.

This isn’t remotely a connection to “my” family tree. It all started very innocently (yesterday) when I was documenting a “shirt tail” relative. But the name “Remen Happreck Peters” appeared as a child of Jonathan Peters. That name didn’t make sense (imho) so I set out to find–and document–the individual. It has taken hours but I’m confident I have all the accurate information. I suspect someone transcribing Census records couldn’t read writing (lol) and Carrie Happock became Remen Happreck. ~~ The name, and locality, did not “fit.” I found her with another set of parents (with the same names) in the proper locality. ~~ My “Nancy Drew” mystery is solved and I can return to Frantz/Garst family history.

There’s more to the story, of course. Personally, I strive for excellence; I attempt to have my information accurate (right down to dotting the “i” and crossing the “t”). It makes me so angry when I check my information against other individuals family tree. They are so careless!! Sometimes ten or more individual family trees have the same misinformation (because they copied…). I shout at the computer sometimes (directed at the culprit): “Don’t you check your information? You have each child listed three times!”

Recently, due to extreme heat and frustrations, I’ve spent a lot of time indoors on Ancestry.com attempting to correct all the misinformation that has crept into the Frantz family tree. I published Frantz Families–Kith & Kin in 1996. The information is readily available including the website. Every individual is listed with sources, in the published book. There’s no excuse for wrong dates and locations.

It’s almost three o’clock and I’m still in my nightgown. My only meals the last couple of days: watermelon, peaches, strawberries, protein bar, coffee, and iced tea (“fast food”). I can’t tear myself away from Ancestry. Well, preparing my blog messages is pretty addictive, too, and I thought I had a good topic for today.

Twenty-five years ago, I thought it was my God-given assignment to document the Frantz family–and collateral lines. Now I want to correct the data on Ancestry before old age clouds my memory. I offer thanks to my Heavenly Father for reasonably good memory, and reasonably good health, at eighty-three years of age.

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Perhaps I’m the only one to find “a new find” heartwarming. Two days documenting the “Peters” family led me to the “Angle” family. Carrie Happock Peters had a sister named Louiza who married James Daniel Angle. During earlier documentation, I could say (to myself) “I’ve been there; I know that area” (genealogical research trips). Now I could exclaim “I know that family; I was in the home of a descendant” (in Rocky Mount, Virginia). The memories brought me to tears!! I had been attending the Garst Family Reunion in Salem, Virginia (2004). Just before it ended, an “extended family” member invited me to their home in Rocky Mount. At her home, she served me a tomato sandwich (homegrown large yellow tomatoes). True story: I had never eaten a tomato sandwich!! Numerous family members greeted me; I visited several homes; I was an overnight guest. I can distinctly remember the beautiful quilts adorning the wall, and second story balcony rail, of an attractive log house. I was in the presence of my Old German Baptist Brethren “cousins.” More recently, several days ago, I was documenting Old German Baptist Brethren, and Church of the Brethren, extended family members. I thought I got side-tracked but it was a (Divine?) circle right back to ancestral roots. I don’t travel any more but memories are precious of those earlier years, earlier travels.

Just a note…

Aug4

…before dashing outdoors to water plants, etc., etc.

I was up early and able to upload pictures and complete “Touched by an angel.” The computer had been shut down (last night) and rebooted, so this program the only one running. ~~ Yesterday, thirteen hours on Ancestry, doing genealogy, and yard was ignored. Plants wilt in one day without water.

Before breakfast…

Aug4

…the vines were cut into smaller pieces.

That’s enough strenuous work for today?! ~~ The question mark was added because it’s quite possible I’ll be back in the yard after breakfast. I love working in the yard!!

Computer problems !!

Aug3

No, I’m not dead or dying. This old computer, used for blog messages, and pictures, is not uploading pictures. The other “newer” computer still has me “locked out.” To assuage my frustrations, I have been working on family history–on Ancestry. I’ve traded one frustration for another!! The multitude of errors in Ancestry individual family trees could drive a serious genealogist crazy. I published Frantz Families–Kith & Kin in 1996 (three volumes, 3,180 pages) and it is “free” on the Internet. Names, dates, sources… but people add bogus information to their tree. My devotion to accuracy (prior to publication in 1996) is now rife with blatant errors. Am I fighting a losing battle in an effort to make wrong right?

Good news: The blog message I want to publish is titled “Touched by and angel.” Yesterday, an angel caught me up in arms, or wings, and saved me from another serious fall/accident. Maybe I’ll be able to “publish”–with pictures–soon.

Touched by an angel !!!!

Aug2

No, not the TV program Touched by an Angel with Roma Downing and Della Reese. I believe an angel put arms (or wings) underneath me and prevented a serious fall. For several days, I’ve been working to remove a tangle of vines woven into the trees near the ground and in the branches above. Not a “lady-like” job but something that would improve the appearance of the back yard. Honestly, the vines were stronger than this old lady. First some tugging, then some resting. One by one they eventually were pulled from the mass. What I actually feared, happened. Suddenly, a vine was free of the tangle and the old lady stumbled and almost fell on tree stumps protruding from the ground. To God be the glory, I was miraculously spared an injury. Directly below, before and after pictures (note the dates).

Below are images of two tree stumps protruding from the ground. Remember, this area has been “primitive” and “a work in progress.” To fall on either of those “spikes” would inflict an injury. Tugging a vine that suddenly was free, I lost my balance. Honestly, it was “Divine Intervention” because I could not recover my balance. Again I say, to God be the glory!

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Sweeter than honey !!

Jul31

Glorious rain!!

There are still a few sprinkles at eleven but the storm has moved out of the area. Comfortable seventy-one degrees at eleven o’clock.

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The air-conditioner had a rest for several hours but a necessity again. Outdoors, the humidity wrapped around me like a wet blanket. I anticipated an enjoyable experience in the yard but was bitterly disappointed.

The power of friendship !!

Jul30

Eight years ago, another RVer reached out to me and suggested I spend the night in her driveway. I was en route from Cape Cod to Acadia National Park. Here is the list of our activities as she opened her home–and heart–to me. Even to this day, she extends consideration and compassion. Yesterday, Debbie was offering suggestions of ways to ease the aches and pains from my recent fall.