It's a Full Time Job

As a novice to medical issues I am shocked at how time consuming this is! 

We started Monday with eye exams at the opthamologist. Mr Merry's prescription had not changed in ten years, but we ordered new glasses for him since his glasses were ten years old.  I got to experience a new student employee so that my preliminary exam took twice as long (or longer). Then the doctor came in and we found out that my cataracts are "ready".  I am having surgery on my left eye on the 24th and he assures me that when I see the difference, I will want to do the right eye two weeks later. 

He uses a special concoction of eye drops that is mixed in a pharmacy out of state and it has taken me two days of missing each others calls to arrangement payment and shipment. 

Today was my visit with my new pulmonologist. He is very nice and knowledgeable and we got along great. I am actually breathing better now (after 3 days of breathing treatments in the hospital and all those Lasix IVs) than I have in years.  I will have a pulmonary function test next week and I think we are repeating the CT of the lungs in two months. 

I had a visit with my new cardiologist last week and he changed the dosage of my three new prescriptions and sent that information to my pharmacy. Friday afternoon I got a message from my pharmacy stating that they had the medications on order and that the price of one of them would be $1032 since my insurance denied it. I knew it would be useless to try to straighten it out over the weekend so I stopped in Monday morning. The clerks had 5 of those new pills for me, the rest still on order and the other two prescriptions were still on order and they had no clue when they would arrive or how much the $1032 prescription would cost me out of pocket until it got there. They acted like I was the troublemaker here and taking up their time with dumb questions. We stopped back on Tuesday and got the rest of the expensive prescription. The cost was $408.28 for 30 days. I checked my policy online and I believe the cost for March and April will be the same, then it will go down to $200 for May and around $100 for the rest of year. Which is much better than $1000 a month. By Wednesday the other two prescriptions were here. One is $1 out of pocket and the other is $10. 

After we visit doctors and pharmacies, we are using our newly purchased passes to the city recreation center. There is a track (actually mats) around the basketball courts on the ground floor that is 1/10 of a mile. We change our shoes and do 10 rounds, which is my limit right now. Almost everyone passes me. It is interesting to watch people at the open gym, mostly young men in their 20's. One day we had a wheelchair player, a young man with no legs. Today there was a lady even older than me who could not bend her knees and walked with two crutches, still faster than me. It makes me realize how lucky I am and how I need to keep at it. 

Saturday we had to use the upstairs track which is walking on the left and running on the right, due to a basketball tournament. My issue is the stairs leave me breathless and we were unable to find the elevator. Tuesday is my new favorite because the gym floor is used for Toddler Time, lots of adorable children aged four and under with mats and toys.  Mr Merry is being a good sport and coming with me everyday. 

All this means is that we leave in the morning as soon as we get the grandkids on the bus and try hard to get home for lunch. So much for the leisure life.

I was pretty excited to finally have lunch with friends on Friday but one of my friends has a repair person coming so we had to cancel. I do have a Trader Joe trip scheduled for the next week. 

I hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day - it's Galentines Day at my house - and eats lots of chocolate. 

I am trying to keep up with everyone's blogs as best I can until I can get my new routine.

Memory Monday: Til Death Does Us Part

I was trying to move back one generation at a time, but I thought this story was so perfect for Valentine's Week. 

My great great great grandfather Daniel was born in Warren County, NY in 1819 and moved to my county in 1833 at age 14 "and took full share into supporting the family". During warmer months he cut and sold wood and also worked with the masons who were erecting the first brick building in town. In the snow months he attended "winter school". 

In 1844 he married my 3rd great grandmother Almira who was born in Genesee County, NY in 1824 and who came in Ohio when she was 10 years old.  Daniel and Almira started farming on 40 acres and moved to various farms in the county before coming back to the original land.  

Daniel and Almira were affiliated with the Society of Friends although Almira did join the Methodist Church for a time.  The couple were parents of four sons, Nathaniel, Charles, Daniel and my great great grandfather Henry and a daughter Sarah who died at one year old. 

"Both were excellent people as parents and citizens, and possessed broad sympathy for the unfortunate. At their golden wedding, held February 11, 1891, the large number of relatives and friends demonstrated clearly the esteem in which the old couple were held"

And here is the family "love story": 

Almira, listed in the paper as "Mrs. Daniel" was in poor health that winter and passed away on in March, 1891. Daniel told the family and friends that he could not live without her. 

"Here he resided until his death March 16, 1891; the death of his wife the preceding day, affected him so powerfully as to cause his death within 24 hours, and the pioneers were buried side by side in Olena Cemetery."

So, how's it goin?

Tonight it is raining ice at my house. This is the view from our cameras. Since we are trapped inside, I thought I would post a catchup. 

When I went to the hospital, well when I felt better at the hospital (I was not thinking in the ambulance or the first hour in the ER), I really had not planned to mention this little episode to anyone. But we were expecting grandkids at 7am for breakfast  so I had to let the parents know.  My text said "Long story short, I'm in the hospital, but your dad will be home to get the kids at 7. Will anyone be around town in the morning to pick them up so he can come back here?"

Well that started it. Kids calling off work, One driving in from out of town.  I had a board meeting the first afternoon - I sent a message that I was calling off AGAIN and understood I might be fired (from my volunteer job).  They joked that next time I would need a doctor's excuse. Surprise, when I texted a few days later that I would be off for at least a few weeks and that I did have a doctor's excuse. 

Word spread around town and as much as I am not crazy about people in my business, it has brought tears to my eyes the amount of people who have called, texted, sent cards and even flowers.  I was on a few prayer chains.  I have had so many people offering to bring food or go shopping for me.  I do tell them I have a freezer full of those dang healthy meals, please don't bring food. I also have a healthy husband with time on his hands, but it is so nice of people to offer.  I feel like I have a lot more friends than I realize.  

This week everyone wants to know how I am doing. The truth is I feel better than I have for months and it really makes me feel like a fraud. Losing all that fluid in my lungs allows me to breath better than ever and I lost a lot of swelling especially in my legs and ankles (I wasn't fat- I was puffy!). Of course I am basically doing nothing so I am well rested, lol.  We did stop at the Cancer Thrift Shop on the way back from a doctor's appointment and I found this fabulous lamp. It didn't accidentally come home with me, I was actually looking for a lamp. 

My best friend forever (since fifth grade) came to town to take me to lunch. She just wanted to see if I was telling the truth about doing better. A local restaurant has a new owner and the interior and ambiance is wonderful. The food and service so-so. 

We have been going to doctor's appointments and even ran errands. We bought passes at the city recreation center and are using the walking track. Mr Merry is walking along because he is still on edge about letting me out alone. 

Today I visited the cardiologist and he increased the dosages on all my new medicines. So even though I feel fabulous, I have to remind myself that we, or me, are dealing with issues. Unfortunately the drug store texted me that my insurance doesn't want to cover one medicine which is $1032 a month. Since it is Friday night, I am planning on checking with the drug store Monday morning, calling the insurance company next and if I finish those calls and don't have a solution before 5pm, calling the doctor's office to see if there is a substitute. 

He is sending me to cardio rehab and said he doesn't want me to do any heavy activities until we work that out since the insurance company may not cover that either. (My refractory is one point over the qualifying number). Meanwhile I have the okay for walking.  

I kind of feel like I am in a holding pattern. I go to the pulmonologist this week and the cardiologist in 2 weeks to see how I am doing and at this point, I just want to get back to normal. Whatever that is.  

What's Cooking

 My nightly dilemma of coming up with dinner ideas has been temporarily solved with my beef producer having another recipe challenge. 

This time it is a slow cooker challenge and to make things more exciting - I am changing the recipes to low-sodium as directed by my new doctors. 

This would have been easy except that I had to make the meatballs, find a low-sodium recipe for dry onion soup, find a low-sodium recipe for gravy mix and find salt-free beef broth in my small town. 

I did find the broth and it was three times the price of unsalted and tasted like water. My solution in the future will be to use the broth from the unsalted beef roasts I cook myself. Here are my recipes:

And here is our version: 

I'm not going to lie, it needed salt.  My next mission is to find a salt substitute with a salty flavor. 

And today we did week 2! 

My changes were to use round steak since that was in the front of the freezer, I added carrots and celery to the mushrooms and onions since I had some in the fridge to use up and I used the rest of my salt-free beef broth and gravy mix.  Cornstarch has no sodium. 

And here is our version:

This is Mr Merry's plate. I had a smaller piece and salad instead of potatoes (which could have been sodium free except I used instant). 

There is enough leftover for two more meals so I hope Mr Merry meant it when he said he liked it! 

I am hoping next week doesn't involve the beef broth/gravy mix pattern, especially with as many times as we will be eating this week's recipe! 

Monday Memories

Please meet my Aunt Patty.  She was born as Pearl May at home in a nearby rural township  in October of 1896 to my great-grandparents Daniel and Wretha.  She was the middle child; my grandfather Louis was born in 1894  and her baby sister Elizabeth (Betty) was born in 1903. 

The fun part of my family is that everyone uses the same names over and over. Pearl May's cousin, who lived on the same road was born in August of 1896 and was named Pearl (same last name) too.  About five Daniels (her dad's name) were living in that township at the time, all named after their grandfather Daniel. 

By 1900 Pearl, her mom and dad and brother were renting a house in town on the same street as my husband and my  first apartment. Daniel is listed as a delivery man.  By 1910 the family had moved to another rental house closer to Main St.  Daniel is listed as a laborer at odd jobs, Mom Wreatha  is listed as a laundress at her home and my 16 year old grandfather is listed as an office boy. My grandfather was supporting the family at this point and Miss Pearl had perfect attendance in the eighth grade and made the honor roll with a 93.2 in 1910 (I can access local newspapers on line). Later that summer she visited friends in a nearby town. 

As a high school senior in April, 1914,  Pearl and a classmate competed in the Northwest District of our state's High School Oratorical Contest with a vocal duet of "In the Dust of the Twilight".  The Medicine Show, which was in town for a week in June of 1914, had a contest for most popular girl. Pearl placed second.  Later in June, Pearl (with her middle name spelled Mae) graduated from our local high school and had a part in the "commencement" play as a maid in waiting. Pearl went on to take a two year Normal course at Miami University in Kent, Ohio. She came home to spend Christmas and Easter with her family. 

In September of 1915 Pearl returned to her studies at Miami University.  Again she returned home for a week at Christmas.  There is no mention of her graduation, but in July of 1916, our local school board hired Pearl for a position at the same grade school my children attended, as a fifth grade teacher. In  October she was a speaker at the Methodist Church anniversary presenting a paper "The Harvest of the Years".  She was a member of the Sunshine Class at the church and was hostess for their meetings. 

In 1917 Miss Pearl directed a large musical show at the elementary school carnival showcasing the students. She spent Easter week visiting friend at Miami University. And in May 1917,  "Scarf dancing, patriotic drills and singing comprised a program by fifth grade girls in green and white dresses at our local theater.  The result showed careful training by Miss Pearl. She continued hosting the Sunshine Class at her family's home. At the end of the school year she prepared high school students for a program of folk and interpretative dances. Pearl was rehired as a teacher for the 1917-1918 school year at a yearly salary of $550.  

In December of 1917 her cousin, the other Pearl Mae O'Dell got married which made my genealogy search of MY aunt much easier.  My Pearl spent the holidays with friends in Indiana.  In May of 1918 the school thanked Pearl for her help with dances for the Patriotic Decoration Day Celebration. In December 1918 Pearl was on the list of persons ill with the influenza.  She recovered to help with a school production with 250 students in May of 1919 and was given a bouquet of pink roses.  Her yearly salary for the 1919-1920 school year was $870. Pearl and another teacher started a dance class for high school girls in December. 

I thought I wouldn't be searching about which article was about which Pearl O'Dell after the marriage of her cousin, but oh no.  Another Pearl, living in New York state and aged 18,  married an O'Dell and they decided to horribly murder her ex-boyfriend. Now to sort through out the articles of the accused murderers who were quite the topic in all the papers, including my local paper. 

In the 1920 census they are renting on another street near Main Street and it says Daniel is a house painter, Wreatha is at home, My grandfather is a jeweler and Pearl is a teacher.  Betty is still a student.

In May 1920, Pearl was the hit of the Eastern Star entertainment as a featured dancer and bit player in the show.  Later in May she helped direct a high school performance.  In June Pearl advertised aesthetic dancing classes. She and friends danced at the Eastern Star banquet in later in June.  Her September salary would have increased by $106.25, but Pearl resigned from her teaching position on July 21, 1920 and accepted a job as a physical training teacher in the junior high school in Las Cruces, New Mexico.  It looks like a year later she is living in Cleveland, Ohio.   Pearl returned to town to "spend a week with her parents" in 1922.  By July 1924 it seems like she is living with her parents. 

In June of 1926, ANOTHER Pearl O'Dell in our county pops up.  She is 18 years old and there is a marriage announcement.  Also in June 1926 my great grandmother (Pearl's mother) and my grandmother (her sister in-law) traveled to Seattle Washington to visit MY Pearl. She changed her name when she went out west and was now going by Patricia Ann, but not in our local papers. Aunt Patty was married in King County, State of Washington in June 1927. I do not believe any family was present as they did not serve as witnesses. 

In August 1933 Aunt Patty and her husband were visiting in the area, "the first time Pearl, a former teacher, has returned in ten years."  She is mentioned as visiting again in 1936 and 1937 and 1938. They would have traveled by train from the state of Washington to the state of Ohio.

Aunt Patty died in 1961 at age 64 in the state of Washington. Her obituary states she was recently teaching classes until her illness.  

Aunt Patty never had children and I like to take the responsibility that she is remembered. 

Here is another photo I found when researching some dates for this article. I believe it is her first year at university. 

Thank You

I would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and concerns after my post last week. This weather has made staying home and doing nothing pretty easy!  

I have lots of random photos and thoughts.  Here is the flower my housekeeper clipped to the board in my room. She was such a sweetie. 

My daughter the nurse Phd came up to make sure I was receiving top notch care. One of the RNs that I was assigned was a former nursing student of hers. Basically all the nurses on the floor were terrified of my daughter (who is 5' tall) but the doctors loved her questions and spent lots of time talking over me.

Both daughters were bored by day two and went to the grocery store. They went to my house and threw out what was in my refrigerator and made me about 30 meals. These included raw green pepper, raw vegetables, fake eggs with raw green pepper, overnight oatmeal (I detest oatmeal), brown rice etc. All in cute little meal containers. Snacks were apples and nuts. This was incredibly nice of them. 

Unfortunately I have GERD like every fat old lady and also can have bouts of IBS (too much information) and I cannot eat nuts or that many raw vegetables, etc and I was very sick. I did lose almost ten pounds which is worrying to my nurse who is calling me every other day to make sure I don't gain over two pounds which could signal the congestive heart failure.  

So I switched to some of the food, like eating the yogurt and berries on top and leaving the oatmeal on the bottom, and egg whites from my farm eggs for lunch. And lean meat and cooked veggie with no salt for supper.  She keeps sending me goofy recipes though, the last one is soaking chicken in almond milk, then  .  . . well I didn't read the rest. 

Anyway, not sure that I mentioned I wore my oldest, most ratty, ugly, gramma nightgown to the hospital. When I got home, one of the first thing I did was order new pjs, some to wear at home and some to pack in a bag by the door in case this ever happens again. 

I got a couple pairs of these. Black so they don't show fluids, short sleeves for IVs, button front for chest stickers, and crop length so they hit my ankles!  I was so embarrassed to show up like I did. Thank you Walmart. 

Further embarrassing my children were my actions in the hospital. Our 50th wedding anniversary is coming up and I was on several fan sites, etc, that had codes for early bird purchases. I had set alarms in my phone. The original plan was to purchase them on my laptop so I could see what was doing. I was receiving alarms every time they were going to do a medical procedure and having to let them time out.  The first day was a total flop.  I actually was able to purchase the tickets and all the extras, like the big bucks parking so I don't have to walk far and tickets to a special bar/deck area which has a private restroom for those patrons (you see where my mind is) right before I went down for the heart cath. Success! And as silly as this seems, this concert at the end of July is goal one. 

In more disappointing news I had signed up for a Bridge Brigade which is a group of protesters who show up on an overhead bridge over the highway, each holding a letter to spell out a message. I received my first alert and had to contact the coordinator and explain I am out due to health reasons. And today the local party called me and I told them the situation before we got started on the ask. 

I notified the charity that I won't be around for several weeks at the very least, until I get my act together.  They actually wrote a prayer for me.

"Loving Lord, We ask Your healing grace for (Miss Merry). Bless her for her faithful service with the Saint Vincent de Paul ministry. Restore her strength, grant her peace and hold her in Your loving care."  (and this made me cry.)

I think this was the Friday snow? Saturday? Anyway the base layer. I have no idea how much we have at this point. So glad I am stuck indoors. Tomorrow schools are cancelled again for both snow and super super low temperatures. 

I am not in this picture. 

My arms are now black, blue, green and orange from all the needles and whatevers at the hospital. My husband is afraid I am turning into the president. 

The events of the weekend have left me sad and angry and devastated and crushed.  I recently saw the videos of the VA nurse reading at the bedside of a deceased veteran and the honor walk that the VA center performed for Alex.  I was present when these rituals were performed for my own father and it was one of the most meaningful things of my life. Watching them with this young hero left me crying for hours. 

Memory Monday

My grampa was a jeweler in our small town. His dad had an alcohol problem and left the family (or they left him) about the time my grandfather finished 8th grade. He apprenticed to the town's jeweler, Mr. Mayle. 

My grampa is on the right. This should be late teens or early 1920's.

Our city built a large building with several stories called The Glass Block. Retailers, such as jewelers, could rent floors or spaces.  The jewelry store, which I think might have changed to Mayle O'Dell Jewelers moved in. 

Here is the Glass Block with the Dinky going down the street. The Dinky ran from one edge of town to the other along Main Street. The town is in the midst of digging up Main Street to the center of the earth and removing the tracks. They removed the tracks at the end of my street last year, dashing my hopes of a Dinky revival. 

And here is the Glass Block in August 1923 after a huge explosion.  The top floors of the building were removed and the current building is one and a half stories. This was a Sunday and the only two men in the building were killed.  A woman waiting on the street car was tossed into the building and died a day later. 

Mr. Mayle decided to retire and my grandfather moved about 3 buildings down on the right of the Glass Block. Most of the furnishings were moved to the new building. 

These are family snapshots from the Christmas season in the 40's or 50's. 

At some point my grandfather scaled back into more jewelry repair and the music store next door cut an opening and expanded into this space. He was still working part-time doing repair work in this area in the back when 1972 he suffered a heart attack and died. My mom and I, along with one the ladies pictured above, inventoried and closed the store. 

The beauty of a small town is that whenever the town historian is contacted by someone wanting to sell memorabilia, he calls me.  I have quite a collection. 

I also have some of the store window display pieces. These are in the best condition. 

And I have a ridiculous amount of jewelry.  And I am a person who does not wear jewelry. I have a codicil leaving it all to my daughters. 

Well, That Came Out of Nowhere

Saturday I was dancing on a street corner with a frog at the Ice Out protest.  We had a normal weekend and Monday would have been another snow day for the children if it was a school day.  I have been tired all month after the influenza I contracted the first of December and was just chilling.  

Monday evening I was watching some high-brow television, Snapped, which features women murdering their husbands. Mr Merry went to bed. At 11 I checked talk show listings and realized they were all reruns because of the holiday.  I stood up, walked to the hall and felt my throat tighten, like I couldn't cough. I thought, I really should call the doctor tomorrow. Then I took about five steps and thought I think I should wake Mr Merry to take me to the ER. Then I got to the bedroom, shook his leg and collapsed.  

He called 911 and they sent 2 adorable little firemen within 3 minutes. I could not breathe and my oxygen level was 83, I could see their faces and assumed I would never come back home.  EMS arrived shortly after and raced to get me on the gurney. We had to take a long route to the hospital due to most roads near me being drifted shut. They gave me either breathing treatments or cpap in the ambulance. 

Then we got to the ER which only had one other patient.  I had five medical people in my room.  Anyway, lots of stabbing, lots of tests, lots of treatments. I did not realize that, right after I arrived, I suffered a NStemi heart attack.  Mr Merry arrived and did not bring anything like my phone or a coat (I was wearing my rattiest nightgown only) or shoes.  I assumed they would give me a shot and send me home.  The first concern was a pulmonary embolism but the cat scan ruled that out. 

They put me in a room and spent Tuesday doing all kinds of poking and prodding and testing.  My veins were not having it and I was blowing ivs and it would take 2-3 pokes for bloodwork.  In addition to normal labs I was having something tested every two hours and something else every three hours, all day and all night.   They were trying to squeeze me into an echocardiogram and heart ultrasound appointment before the end of the day.  And they made it. 

I was the first heart cath on Wednesday morning.  The long story short (and this is from me, a non health professional) is that the flu virus in December got into my heart and started killing muscle. My heart has not been beating properly and fluid had collected (and completely filled) my lungs. Then the torturous aorta in my heart (that I was born with) twisted and leaked blood into my heart.  The final diagnosis is Hypoxia/COPD, Acute systolic heart failure, hypertension and hyperglycemia and congestive heart failure.  I really had zero symptoms until I almost stopped breathing. 

My daughter who has a phd in nursing traveled in on Tuesday and was appointed boss of me. She listened to the doctors reports while I breathed and translated the information.  This is life changing and scary and makes me really really angry so I guess I feel better today. 

I passed the test of walking the hallway and was able to come home without oxygen.  My daughters went shopping and made us about 20 individual heart healthy meals in our fridge and freezer. I have appointments with every specialist in the system.  I have a person whose job title I didn't catch calling me every other day for 30 days to check up on me. My whole world is changing to focus on me and my health. And I don't like it. 

I know I am feeling better today because I am angry.  I have no trouble sitting in a chair because I have both arms in ice from all the bruising. I think I am permitted to shower tonight.  

So how was your weekend?

I want to apologize in advance because I am not thinking I will be sharing light posts for a while.  Actually, I do have some funny goofy hospital stories.  I will share those next time.  Right now it is all kind of a blur. 

Memory Mondays

For this edition of Memory Mondays I have decided to answer some genealogy questions. 

I want to start with how I began my research because it is something I recommend. I was afraid of the internet and sharing too much. When I started researching I used the Ancestry dot com subscription at our local library as well as the website Family Search. I also researched in collections of local libraries and the courthouse. 

When I found documents related to my family, like a census record or draft card, etc, I printed them on paper and put them in folders. I talked a friend into day trips to a Presidential library that specializes in genealogy where we researched newspapers in our state, first on microfilm and then computers when they digalitized them. These holdings include many newspapers not available on line and we are able to make copies of articles.  I made so many copies that it was worth buying a membership to get a reduced rate on copying, lol. 

I also made a spreadsheet for every generation so I could chart when I had copies of birth certificates, death certificates, census and military records so I knew what I was looking for. 

Having everything on paper was good for me as a visual person. And with my family traditions - very necessary. We like to name babies after relatives and, for example, in the case of my maternal great grandfather, he and two cousins who were all born in the same township in the same year shared the same first and last name. Having the paper copies I could compare all the information to make sure the documents I had belonged to the correct person.  

I developed my family tree for about a year before I joined Ancestry and put my tree online.  I have found lots of misinformation about my past relatives on line and people don't seem to respond to messages about it.  

Another example. One census lists my great grandmother Maud as Mary. Most people's family trees list Mary as a sister. There is no Mary. 

Same family, Maud's mother Isabell raised my grandfather after her death. People confuse his Isabell for my grandfather's mother even though she is listed as grandmother on most census records. After he married, Isabell lived with them and is listed on census records as "mother-in-law". This has lead people to assume she is my grandmother's (his wife's) mother.  You can imagine the mess this makes with the wrong family attached to the maternal side. 

I knew these people and know I'm right (lol) but people will disagree with me and keep sharing the wrong information. 

How do I store this information.   

I have files of all the information I find on paper copies. I try to attach it all to the tree on Ancestry. And I purchased Roots Web so I can have a copy on my laptop not attached to the internet.  I am a total failure at Roots Web and haven't updated it in a decade. I bought a newer version thinking that would inspire me. It didn't. 

So yes, I have a room of papers. Original documents are kept in acid free boxes I purchase from library supply vendor Gaylord. 

How do I share information or do I share information.  

Oh, lots of ways. First, I send portraits and pictures to Walgreens and print 4x6 copies which I attach to my china cabinets. I test the little grandchildren on who is who.  They are pretty good at it. 

Several years ago I made picture books from Shutterfly for all the grandkids. The first page has photos of them, then the next two pages are parents, then grandparents, etc. It goes back maybe 4 -5 generations.  I did do captions, especially with military information which the boys are particularly interested in.

I created a private facebook group for each side of my family where I share information, finds and photos.  I try to encourage other relatives to share too but it is mostly me. All my children are members of the groups, too. 

I have done a little research on my husband's tree which is challenging because he was born in another state and most of his grandparents and great-grandparents are first generation. Once I found a family picture on Facebook from his mother's side showing her father and his eight siblings as young adults. I thought this was so amazing that I made copies for all his siblings and his mother. The siblings loved it (except one) and his mother called me and informed me that this is NOT my family and I have no right to have this photo (that I found on Facebook). So that is one experience. 

On my mom's side there is a line that I had no information. I started with her grandfather's name, a family legend that wasn't true and all records in a small rural community in another state and not available on line.  I contacted a relative through DNA and we compared what we could find. Now move forward to a genealogy conference last spring and a course I took on using the new feature on Family Search that reads text of old court documents.  

My great grandmother was Lavantia and I wasn't even sure of her maiden name. Census records said she was born in New York or New Jersey.  I put in her first name and married last name and up popped about 12 pages.  

It was a lawsuit brought in the 1850's by Lavantia's mother Catherine which listed her husband's name AND all seven of her children listed with their spouses first and last names.  This was completely new information to my family. I printed all the papers because they are scans of handwritten pages from the 1850's and difficult to read. I got into messages on Ancestry and offered to mail copies to relatives I had identified who were THRILLED.  No one had figured out how to get past these walls and here it was! 

I also commented on a facebook post in my town which put me in touch with someone whose great grandmother was my great grandmother's sister.  And she was the keeper of the family photos! She came to my house one day and let me scan a rubbermaid tube of papers and photos. We later located the great granddaughter of one of their brothers and all met for coffee and discussion.  

I love to share resources and finds especially in person! 

The last question is where all this stuff will go. 

I sincerely doubt any of my five children will want to take custody of all the paperwork. Or even the original photos.  I am hoping to eventually convince one of my grandchildren to take over.  We do have a very active local genealogy chapter who would house some original items in their research library along with a self published book.  I would just need to put that together. In my spare time. 

Be Good Protest and Recipe Reviews

 

Hey, it's the Abominable Snowman at the local Be Good protest. Wait, that's Miss Merry with three layers, her insulated boots, new hat and freezing fingers and toes. Beside me is my portable speaker where I play 1960's protest songs.  

We didn't start planning until early in the week and were hoping for 20 and willing to settle for 10 with the 17 degree temperatures. FIFTY brave souls attended! 

I was at one end down by the frog with my speaker. My friend Kate who has the same speaker was at the opposite end playing 1990's music.  I know because people my age were gravitating toward me to sing along and I guess the younger people moved toward Kate. 

We started at the park across from the library and then moved up to the courthouse where there is an intersection of two highways. 

At the beginning. I was shocked so many attended. 

Photos screenshot from our local newspaper.  My speaker operates from my Spotify playlist on my phone and I am not smart enough to be able to play music and take pictures. 

Recipe Reviews:

If you see this reel about a quick and easy breakfast quiche in your air fryer, don't fall for it. 

You put a tortilla in a foil pie pan, mix eggs, cottage cheese, some peppers, I added sausage and top with cheese.  I baked it the allotted time and the eggs were raw. I believe I cooked it for the 3 times at the recommended time and temperature and then I gave up, cut it into wedges and put them the microwave with the raw middle toward the outside edge of the plate.  

It took almost an hour to cook two of the quiches. My husband's review "They didn't taste bad by the end".  

As I seem to be on a quiche kick, someone asked how the Hellmann's Mayonnaise quiches tasted.  

They were fabulous. Very light and creamy. They would be better with the recommended Swiss cheese but were delicious with the cheddar I had on hand. As good as I remembered them. My husband who ate them once a week the first year we were married (I had a limited repertoire) had no memory of ever eating them before but was crazy about them.  

We took the ten year challenge. Since we had our anniversary pictures taken in 2016, it's that time again!  

For our 40th Anniversary we traveled to Kentucky to see Miss Loretta Lynn, a long time dream of mine. We stayed in a little motel and ate at a home-cooking diner on a mountain. 

For the Big 50, we are going all out. World travelers that we are, we are going 78 miles to a concert I don't want to mention yet since I am hoping to snag really really really good (expensive) seats when they go on early sale this week.  I checked hotels and the very nicest one that isn't a Hilton (because I am boycotting Hilton) had limited rooms already so we went ahead and booked four nights.  We are going to have a wild time leading up to the concert visiting a few museums, doing a driving tour through a national park (not sure if I mentioned this is the end of July and hot. The car is air-conditioned). I am making a list of antique stores and thrift stores and restaurants.  We are very excited. And I have my fingers crossed on the tickets. I joined several groups that promise early release of tickets and I have alarms set on my phone.  

I'll keep you posted!