Thursday, January 17, 2019
Force of nature
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
An unusual name, Lebbeus Booth
Week 3 - 52 Ancestors 52 Weeks (Jan. 15-21): Unusual Name
#52 Ancestors
When different cultures merge, many times there are unusual names from one to another. I like one that was popular in the 16th through 19th centuries in several ancestors, women named Kesiah. But I think it may have originally been Native American. So for them, it wouldn't have been unusual.
So I'm going to do the "throw the pin at the map" kind of selection...just log onto one of my three lines of ancestors, and find a name that sounds unusual, then figure out how they are related to me. It's pure chance.
I had many ancestors with Bibical names, from many different faiths. So I dare say that one of them would be my choice.
But here's a Booth cousin, and a name I've never run into before. Lebbeus Booth. I find it was also Bibical, a name for one of the appostles named Jude Taddeus.
The 1850 NY Census states Lebbeus Booth was 60 years old, thus born in Connecticut around 1790. Actual birth date was June 25, 1789. This census also lists his wife (?) and children.
He is living with a woman, younger than he was, age 46, namedLaurietta, Lucretia. The others listed in his household also have unusual names. A 22 year old man named Moss Pant Kent Booth. Then a woman, Marthy H Booth, age 20. 18 year old male has a common name of John C. Irrebela G Booth comes next (though she may have been Isabela) at age 11, as well as Lecretia, while Susan E. Booth is just 6. Mary Johnson is 25, and may be a servant, who has a daughter, Adaline, age 1. This census was taken in Ballston Spa, Saratoga County, NY.
He is listed as a student in Union College of New York in 1817 as being from Ballston Spa, New York (published in 1833). (Catalogue of the fraternity of [Phi] B K, Alpha of New York. Union College, Schenectady, 1827.)
In 1818 he is in the Albany NY City Directory, in Montgomery. Upon checking, Montgomery is about an hour away from Albany, so he may have had interests in both areas.
He is again listed in Union College of New York in 1845 as being on a committee to organize the 50th anniversary of the college, being listed as class of 1813.
His death listing happened on 16 Dec, 1859, when he was 70 years old, with his occupation as a retired gentleman. His cause of death was marasmus (wasting disease). He was still married at that time.
He had written a will, in 1856 leaving his possessions to his children and wife. He was survived by Martha Booth Seely, John C. Booth, daughters Lucretia Booth and Susan E Booth, the last 2 being considered minors, so they were given a male guardian. His wife also was named Lucretia (rather than the garbled name the 1850 census taker gave her.)
Oh, who is he to my ancestors? His father, Silas Booth (1758-1835) was the brother of Isaac Booth Sr, (1755-1841), who was my 5 times great grandfather. So we have a 6 times great grandfather in common, and I think that makes him my 2nd cousin 6 times removed. Please let me know if I've got that wrong. I always scratch my head on that cousin stuff.
Amy Johnson Crow continues to challenge genealogy bloggers and non-bloggers alike to think about our ancestors and share a story or photo about them. The challenge is “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.”
More notes by writer:
#52 Ancestors
When different cultures merge, many times there are unusual names from one to another. I like one that was popular in the 16th through 19th centuries in several ancestors, women named Kesiah. But I think it may have originally been Native American. So for them, it wouldn't have been unusual.
So I'm going to do the "throw the pin at the map" kind of selection...just log onto one of my three lines of ancestors, and find a name that sounds unusual, then figure out how they are related to me. It's pure chance.
I had many ancestors with Bibical names, from many different faiths. So I dare say that one of them would be my choice.
But here's a Booth cousin, and a name I've never run into before. Lebbeus Booth. I find it was also Bibical, a name for one of the appostles named Jude Taddeus.
The 1850 NY Census states Lebbeus Booth was 60 years old, thus born in Connecticut around 1790. Actual birth date was June 25, 1789. This census also lists his wife (?) and children.
He is living with a woman, younger than he was, age 46, named
He is listed as a student in Union College of New York in 1817 as being from Ballston Spa, New York (published in 1833). (Catalogue of the fraternity of [Phi] B K, Alpha of New York. Union College, Schenectady, 1827.)
In 1818 he is in the Albany NY City Directory, in Montgomery. Upon checking, Montgomery is about an hour away from Albany, so he may have had interests in both areas.
He is again listed in Union College of New York in 1845 as being on a committee to organize the 50th anniversary of the college, being listed as class of 1813.
His death listing happened on 16 Dec, 1859, when he was 70 years old, with his occupation as a retired gentleman. His cause of death was marasmus (wasting disease). He was still married at that time.
He had written a will, in 1856 leaving his possessions to his children and wife. He was survived by Martha Booth Seely, John C. Booth, daughters Lucretia Booth and Susan E Booth, the last 2 being considered minors, so they were given a male guardian. His wife also was named Lucretia (rather than the garbled name the 1850 census taker gave her.)
Oh, who is he to my ancestors? His father, Silas Booth (1758-1835) was the brother of Isaac Booth Sr, (1755-1841), who was my 5 times great grandfather. So we have a 6 times great grandfather in common, and I think that makes him my 2nd cousin 6 times removed. Please let me know if I've got that wrong. I always scratch my head on that cousin stuff.
More notes by writer:
"Lucretia Foot(e) ...married Lebbeus Booth, a banker who helped establish the Ballston Spa National Bank. (probably in Roerig, Ruth W. The History of Ballston Spa National Bank, 1838-1988: A Story of “The Old Bank,” Its Community, and Its People. Ballston Spa, NY: Ballston Spa National Bank, 1988.)
Lebbeus was 2nd Principal of Female Academy, 1815-1824, founded by Ebenezer Foote, whose only daughter was Lucretia Foote Booth, Lebbeus' wife.
Had private school in Ballston several years.
Source: http://dunhamwilcox.net/ny/ne_albany_bio1.htm
Ancestry finally posted his relationship to writer...1st cousin 6 times removed!
Ancestry finally posted his relationship to writer...1st cousin 6 times removed!
Thursday, January 10, 2019
T'ai Chi master.
"I want to Play" she said.
She rose from where she was sitting, keeping her red cloak on, wearing a white outfit with black sash.
She stepped forward onto the playing floor.
And she spun.
She spun so fast, just a blur of black/white/red, which rose in a nano-second to the roof.
And there she spread her arms and legs, looking down from where she was plastered on the high ceiling.
She just smiled at us, looking up at her.
She had her robes kind of falling forward to remind us that gravity still existed.
And she stayed there for the count of maybe 10.
Then she just stepped down, and was standing on the floor again.
I had wanted to ask her, isn't this like the moves of T'ai Chi? But I forgot all about it.
I was smiling like a banshee, I know. I had seen that. Only a few of us had. The rest of the room kind of was blurred in another time/space continuum. They kept talking, looking at each other, or moving as they had been doing before this event occurred. But I knew. And she knew. This was the Playground. This was how to move through our space. How to make our movements be beyond what we thought were limitations.
This was how to Play. How our bodies could play with the world.
She rose from where she was sitting, keeping her red cloak on, wearing a white outfit with black sash.
She stepped forward onto the playing floor.
And she spun.
She spun so fast, just a blur of black/white/red, which rose in a nano-second to the roof.
And there she spread her arms and legs, looking down from where she was plastered on the high ceiling.
She just smiled at us, looking up at her.
She had her robes kind of falling forward to remind us that gravity still existed.
And she stayed there for the count of maybe 10.
Then she just stepped down, and was standing on the floor again.
I had wanted to ask her, isn't this like the moves of T'ai Chi? But I forgot all about it.
I was smiling like a banshee, I know. I had seen that. Only a few of us had. The rest of the room kind of was blurred in another time/space continuum. They kept talking, looking at each other, or moving as they had been doing before this event occurred. But I knew. And she knew. This was the Playground. This was how to move through our space. How to make our movements be beyond what we thought were limitations.
This was how to Play. How our bodies could play with the world.
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
It's for the negative ions, you know!
Water over rocks, waterfalls, water in waves coming ashore, moving water gives off negative ions, which make us feel GOOD. I am not sure sitting water does, maybe a little bit.
So today I took the plunge and went all the way to Hooker Falls in Brevard National Forest...and I saw an amazing thing. Not just water at a high level from rain plunging over the falls, but a couple of risk-taking men doing the same.
So here's just the first installment.
Other men were waiting to do the same, using the raft, which they'd take back up river to come over the falls themselves...
I'm not sure if the kayak was going to be shared, as he stayed with it after coming to land.
A kayak came over first, and I had just still photos. For the raft, I used the video, and captured his trip with sound and action! I'll see if blogger can handle that. Others do it, so maybe I can figure out how. Well, I haven't got the knack yet. Maybe tomorrow.
So today I took the plunge and went all the way to Hooker Falls in Brevard National Forest...and I saw an amazing thing. Not just water at a high level from rain plunging over the falls, but a couple of risk-taking men doing the same.
So here's just the first installment.
A kayak came over first, and I had just still photos. For the raft, I used the video, and captured his trip with sound and action! I'll see if blogger can handle that. Others do it, so maybe I can figure out how. Well, I haven't got the knack yet. Maybe tomorrow.
Saturday, January 5, 2019
Sun and shadows
That was yesterday, for about 10 minutes.
But today, ah, there was bright warm sun flowing through the window most of the day. When I didn't check on it, I was outside on a rock by my favorite creek, taking photos into the sun. That was fun.
They'll be over on the "Living in Black Mountain" blog in a day or so.
I'm still dealing with cough, and my brain seems to be about half here. I sleep forever. And then I have these horrible nightmares. I keep forgetting simple routines, and I don't know that I'm taking all the meds I'm supposed to take. There are so many silly rituals...perhaps I should add some meditation and prayer to them, so they have more meaning to me. Nebulize twice a day...seems prayerful to me. And take certain pills and an inhaler mornings, and other pills and inhaler evenings. I really need to add my yoga stretching back in there too. The head-cold last week meant I just would lie down without a pillow and roll from side to side...a great exercise for who-knows-what.
Friday, January 4, 2019
Early dating in America
Some reasons to "hook up" with someone...
1901 dating site...
I am descended from both New England and Virginia's early settlers. How did these people meet and marry? My consideration is often boggled when they came from areas so divergent.
Jamestown Settlement historian Nancy Egloff is interviewed in this History Channel article, 'When the Jamestown Colony Placed Ads to Attract Brides' - https://www.history.com/…/jamestown-colony-women-brides-pro….
Learn more at Jamestown Settlement's special exhibition,'TENACITY: Women of Jamestown and Early Virginia.'
I know that at least one of my ancestors did marry a Native American woman, who became Christian and adopted an English name. I haven't searched to see if any of my other Jamestown ancestors married a wife who came with these ships. I know one who went back to England to marry and then brought his wife to the Virginia colony.
My American Indian roots:
My grandfather, George Rogers' mother was also named Elizabeth (Bette) Bass. She was descended from the early Virginia marriage. (Link to my post on Nansemond tribe). My grandchildren got a kick out of thinking of being cousins to Pocahontas.
Here's our Sepia Saturday for this week.
Perhaps this photo isn't directly connected to brides, or even settlers...but the model and the little ones observing her might end up marrying someone who sought their fortune and then wished to share it through meeting by an unusual method. I know, stretching the meme a bit...
I'm sharing this with 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, under the meme "FIRST."
I am descended from both New England and Virginia's early settlers. How did these people meet and marry? My consideration is often boggled when they came from areas so divergent.
Jamestown Settlement historian Nancy Egloff is interviewed in this History Channel article, 'When the Jamestown Colony Placed Ads to Attract Brides' - https://www.history.com/…/jamestown-colony-women-brides-pro….
Learn more at Jamestown Settlement's special exhibition,'TENACITY: Women of Jamestown and Early Virginia.'
"In 1619, the Jamestown colony—North America’s first permanent English settlement—consisted mostly of single men looking to get rich. For the Virginia Company, this presented a problem: how to keep it growing when few single English women wanted to venture to the struggling colony? The solution it came up with was to pay women’s passage to Jamestown so they could marry its bachelors.
"The Jamestown brides program attracted 90 women who came over in 1620, and another 56 who came over in late 1621 and early 1622.
An illustration of the arrival of the first women to the Jamestown colony.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
"Without these women—later known as “tobacco wives”—the Virginia Company was concerned that the 12-year-old colony wouldn’t survive. Unlike the Puritans who would soon settle in New England colonies with their families, the men in Jamestown didn’t have families to keep them in the Americas permanently, says Marcia A. Yablon-Zug, a law professor at the University of South Carolina and author of Buying a Bride: An Engaging History of Mail-Order Matches.
Many Jamestown settlers would “come to the colony, make their fortune, and go home to get married,” she says. A small portion abandoned “the colony to go live in the Indian villages, where obviously there were plenty of women and life was better.” This latter outcome was especially troubling to English religious leaders, who preached sermons about “the sexual availability of the Indian women,” she says.
Wives of settlers arriving at Jamestown.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
I know that at least one of my ancestors did marry a Native American woman, who became Christian and adopted an English name. I haven't searched to see if any of my other Jamestown ancestors married a wife who came with these ships. I know one who went back to England to marry and then brought his wife to the Virginia colony.
My American Indian roots:
The Nansemond Indians originally lived along the Nansemond River and were part of the empire ruled by Powhatan, the father of Pocahontas. When the English arrived, the tribe had about 300 warriors and a total perhaps of 1200 people.
They were initially wary and often hostile toward the English, but by the 1630's some had changed their minds. A family sermon book still in the Chief's possession records the 1638 marriage of John Bass, and a Nansemond convert to Christianity named Elizabeth. Everyone in today's Nansemond tribe is a descendant from that marriage. (Source: Smithsonian)
My grandfather, George Rogers' mother was also named Elizabeth (Bette) Bass. She was descended from the early Virginia marriage. (Link to my post on Nansemond tribe). My grandchildren got a kick out of thinking of being cousins to Pocahontas.
Here's our Sepia Saturday for this week.
Perhaps this photo isn't directly connected to brides, or even settlers...but the model and the little ones observing her might end up marrying someone who sought their fortune and then wished to share it through meeting by an unusual method. I know, stretching the meme a bit...
I'm sharing this with 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, under the meme "FIRST."
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
Happy 2019
I've not shared with anyone today.
I am wrapped in my own misery.
Occasionally I say something to the TV, or the computer, or even the solitaire game. I watched the Rose Parade, and a few foodball games, and the first NCIS repeat for last year's season.
OK, I'm not going to drag more dreary thoughts here. That's not fair, when everyone else is celebrating new beginnings and full of hope.
I wish everyone to have many things for which to feel grateful. I will make my own gratitude list, but not share it here.
JFK in West Virginia when first running for president.
I've learned several things today...and am moving towards letting you know, but first I want to try them out.
I am wrapped in my own misery.
Occasionally I say something to the TV, or the computer, or even the solitaire game. I watched the Rose Parade, and a few foodball games, and the first NCIS repeat for last year's season.
OK, I'm not going to drag more dreary thoughts here. That's not fair, when everyone else is celebrating new beginnings and full of hope.
I wish everyone to have many things for which to feel grateful. I will make my own gratitude list, but not share it here.
I've learned several things today...and am moving towards letting you know, but first I want to try them out.
Monday, December 31, 2018
Meeting obligations, minimal
The newsletter editing job is now mine...for the church. And our last editor helped me put everything together after church today...after we found out the new password.
Before church I stopped off at the Red House (Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League) to pick up the angels which hadn't sold during their Christmas show. I was glad the larger ones had sold, and I just had a few small pieces to bring home. It was also fun to see several women I knew who were touring the display.
After our hour or so editing the newsletter, I picked up fast food, and came home. Nothing much to grab my interest...I felt tired, hungry and wanted to sleep...which was my next activity for the day. The head cold is still taking a lot of my attention.
The house is slipping further and further into disarray. Somehow I can go out and do what's expected of me, but when I'm home, I just lie around (or sit around).
TV, Netflix, books, facebook, blogs...anything that just is simple and somewhat interesting.
I like that other facebook friends post things that I agree with, so I share them, and then others of my friends can like them, or sometimes comment on them. This is a minimal form of communication. The really neat part is when I get to see pictures of my family who live hundreds of miles away, doing something fun. I save the photos.
I do need to go grocery shopping. So that will be top of the list for Mon. And pick up a prescription at my local pharmacy.
Can I tell you a secret? (There are very few people who read this, so I guess I feel an intimate sharing is somehow ok.) I make myself take a shower almost every day. When I do, I feel so much better. My aching muscles all are warmed and relaxed. I get on clean clothes, and add the old to the pile that's growing. So far I've been able to haul the dirty clothes over to the laundromat...and spend about an hour watching them go round in washer and then drier.
I'm going to do some serious meditating on all my gifts that are waiting to be sent to my family members. I used to think about them in the middle of the night, but I don't any more. I was afraid that no matter how I wrapped the ceramic pieces, they would break. I'm almost ready to not even send them to them. I have other things that are more packing friendly!
Before church I stopped off at the Red House (Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League) to pick up the angels which hadn't sold during their Christmas show. I was glad the larger ones had sold, and I just had a few small pieces to bring home. It was also fun to see several women I knew who were touring the display.
After our hour or so editing the newsletter, I picked up fast food, and came home. Nothing much to grab my interest...I felt tired, hungry and wanted to sleep...which was my next activity for the day. The head cold is still taking a lot of my attention.
The house is slipping further and further into disarray. Somehow I can go out and do what's expected of me, but when I'm home, I just lie around (or sit around).
TV, Netflix, books, facebook, blogs...anything that just is simple and somewhat interesting.
I like that other facebook friends post things that I agree with, so I share them, and then others of my friends can like them, or sometimes comment on them. This is a minimal form of communication. The really neat part is when I get to see pictures of my family who live hundreds of miles away, doing something fun. I save the photos.
I do need to go grocery shopping. So that will be top of the list for Mon. And pick up a prescription at my local pharmacy.
Can I tell you a secret? (There are very few people who read this, so I guess I feel an intimate sharing is somehow ok.) I make myself take a shower almost every day. When I do, I feel so much better. My aching muscles all are warmed and relaxed. I get on clean clothes, and add the old to the pile that's growing. So far I've been able to haul the dirty clothes over to the laundromat...and spend about an hour watching them go round in washer and then drier.
I'm going to do some serious meditating on all my gifts that are waiting to be sent to my family members. I used to think about them in the middle of the night, but I don't any more. I was afraid that no matter how I wrapped the ceramic pieces, they would break. I'm almost ready to not even send them to them. I have other things that are more packing friendly!
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Just when you think it's not going to get any worse...
Well, life does have this habit of making something else happen when you're just hanging on by your fingers. So while trying to figure out if I'm not as depressed as I seem to be, and while slowly packing and wrapping the presents...I get a head cold.
Nope, that's not the worst thing in the world. Finishing the presents before New Years might have been my goal. But gee, I slept 3 hours yesterday afternoon, and I'm so glad I did, because my nose didn't run while I was using the C-Pap. It means I have to breathe through my nose, and thankfully it kind of dries stuff out enough that I was able to snooze.
So when I woke up I felt like some Chinese food, and got on real shoes (not slippers, which my friend Cathy gave me for Christmas!) and with weather in high 50s, drove down to our only Chinese place. Don't know what happened to all the others, but this one is good...got my hot and sour soup, egg roll and sweet and sour chicken...and will have left overs the next day.
Deep breath. Cough a bit. Sit and stretch. Walk around. Tea is good! Lots of liquids! I'm grateful for what I've got!
Nope, that's not the worst thing in the world. Finishing the presents before New Years might have been my goal. But gee, I slept 3 hours yesterday afternoon, and I'm so glad I did, because my nose didn't run while I was using the C-Pap. It means I have to breathe through my nose, and thankfully it kind of dries stuff out enough that I was able to snooze.
So when I woke up I felt like some Chinese food, and got on real shoes (not slippers, which my friend Cathy gave me for Christmas!) and with weather in high 50s, drove down to our only Chinese place. Don't know what happened to all the others, but this one is good...got my hot and sour soup, egg roll and sweet and sour chicken...and will have left overs the next day.
Deep breath. Cough a bit. Sit and stretch. Walk around. Tea is good! Lots of liquids! I'm grateful for what I've got!
Thursday, December 27, 2018
Baby steps
OK, I don't have to do everything at once...or at all.
I'm determined to get to feeling better. So I'm just starting today.
This depressed feeling, grief over loss, sadness, not being motivated to do a thing.
Today is a start to do one little thing.
There, just that one thing is done.
Now I'm resting.
Another one little thing.
Acknowledging that I can accomplish something.
I love the earth-rise picture from the moon...I've lived through such interesting times. Men walked on the moon.
I had children, and now they've had children too. I survived my own childhood. Yay, haven't we all, somehow or another.
So today everyone is looking at their latest gifts.
But today I'm finally wrapping my gifts to my children and grandchildren. Five of whom won't even be home till the end of the month. So their package will not be mailed too soon.
Anyway, I am sending New Year's gifts this year.
And 4 of them just got wrapped! I may not wrap the ceramic pieces, since they'll be in bubble wrap anyway.
Unfortunately 3 sons will get just a promise of their gifts, because I haven't finished them yet. They are to get a genealogy showing our lineage back to Edward I Plantagenet of England. I will work on it again each night until I can print it for them...and get some copies made to go in the binders...and make an updatable copy on thumb-drives. This is a determined mom that keeps on doing a bit here and there on these documents...I can give them something of myself this way.
Now, more baby steps. There is not the pressure of getting gifts to them by Christmas, when they would have been buried under trees with thousands of others. No kidding, I've been at their houses for Christmas before. Well, my youngest doesn't "do christmas" so I guess he doesn't have gifts under a tree at all. He also doesn't give gifts. I love him anyway. And I always give him and his lovely lady gifts too...it's a mothering thing.
I'm determined to get to feeling better. So I'm just starting today.
This depressed feeling, grief over loss, sadness, not being motivated to do a thing.
Today is a start to do one little thing.
There, just that one thing is done.
Now I'm resting.
Another one little thing.
Acknowledging that I can accomplish something.
I love the earth-rise picture from the moon...I've lived through such interesting times. Men walked on the moon.
I had children, and now they've had children too. I survived my own childhood. Yay, haven't we all, somehow or another.
So today everyone is looking at their latest gifts.
But today I'm finally wrapping my gifts to my children and grandchildren. Five of whom won't even be home till the end of the month. So their package will not be mailed too soon.
Anyway, I am sending New Year's gifts this year.
And 4 of them just got wrapped! I may not wrap the ceramic pieces, since they'll be in bubble wrap anyway.
Unfortunately 3 sons will get just a promise of their gifts, because I haven't finished them yet. They are to get a genealogy showing our lineage back to Edward I Plantagenet of England. I will work on it again each night until I can print it for them...and get some copies made to go in the binders...and make an updatable copy on thumb-drives. This is a determined mom that keeps on doing a bit here and there on these documents...I can give them something of myself this way.
Now, more baby steps. There is not the pressure of getting gifts to them by Christmas, when they would have been buried under trees with thousands of others. No kidding, I've been at their houses for Christmas before. Well, my youngest doesn't "do christmas" so I guess he doesn't have gifts under a tree at all. He also doesn't give gifts. I love him anyway. And I always give him and his lovely lady gifts too...it's a mothering thing.
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Sunday, December 23, 2018
Waiting for wellness - reading Pratchett
Whenever my lung conditions rear their ugly heads, I'm for bed and a book.
And this season I felt like reliving some old favorites!
Terry Pratchett has given my mind such a release from the worries of the season, or even of my conditions. I have almost all of his books. Certainly enough to read for a month, while coming up to eat on occasion.
These are the first, The Light Fantastic, and The Color of Magic.
As you can see, the first book, about a wizard and a tourist, and many strange magical things that happen on discworld, came out in 1983.
Its sequel, The Light Fantastic, came out in 1986.
Do you know when Harry Potter appeared in bookstores? Yep, 1986.
Seems like a "fortuitous time" for books about wizards and magic.
Pratchett died a couple of years ago of Alzheimers. He wrote many books in those 2-3 decades...and I've read most of them. Of course not being British, I've had to extrapolate to understand some of the satire about the institutions like banks, postal service, communications, and especially the police force. But even an American can be laughing out loud at the hi-jinks these characters get into and out of!
And the witches! Oh they are much better than the wizards, I think!
And this season I felt like reliving some old favorites!
Terry Pratchett has given my mind such a release from the worries of the season, or even of my conditions. I have almost all of his books. Certainly enough to read for a month, while coming up to eat on occasion.
These are the first, The Light Fantastic, and The Color of Magic.
Do you know when Harry Potter appeared in bookstores? Yep, 1986.
Seems like a "fortuitous time" for books about wizards and magic.
Pratchett died a couple of years ago of Alzheimers. He wrote many books in those 2-3 decades...and I've read most of them. Of course not being British, I've had to extrapolate to understand some of the satire about the institutions like banks, postal service, communications, and especially the police force. But even an American can be laughing out loud at the hi-jinks these characters get into and out of!
And the witches! Oh they are much better than the wizards, I think!
Saturday, December 22, 2018
Consumerism of Christmas
Just for fun, think of The Christmas that Never Was
The one without any consumerism...
Well, there is the story of Christmas, which we all get to hear over and over, as well as it having been recorded in the Bible. That might not have had anyone trying to sell you something to give someone else. Maybe.
I salute all those parents who apologize to their children (through many years actually) because Santa hasn't brought them a.) what they asked for or b.) anything much at all or c.) whatever someone else has droned into their heads that they should have, or d.) more than just being kept warm, dry and fed.
Dickens did a great job of showing how Scrooge had a bad attitude, which could be changed by a loving family.
Then along came "It's a Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart, and don't forget little Natalie Wood with "Miracle on 34th St."
I apologize to my readers, that I haven't watched that many of the more recent Christmas movies. They were fun, and I watched them once. But not more than once, (except Home Alone.)
If I'm going to escape reality into imagination, I'd prefer something with magic, music and maybe pure adventure. Yes, Star Wars sometimes. I don't plan to go see Mary Poppins remake!
I loved my father, and miss his sweet silly nature. That's me being hugged when about 3 years old. He's been gone for about 33 years now.
A few years later, probably 1947, there's my almost 2 year old sister with dark hair in foreground. Among the fun toys was a wind-up metal music man with a piano at my feet (clad in P.J.s with feet!) and I have no idea what I was busy unwrapping, but there was a nesting set of cardboard blocks (very large) behind me...they had interesting photos pasted on the sides! I miss my sister Mary Beth.
My dear Grandmother "Gummy" was late arriving, but had presents which were wrapped in newspaper. I had almost forgotten that!
She was always full of love for all of us, though I know she rubbed my mother the wrong way many times.
My little sister got her first phone...and since she didn't hear anyone on it (even if she'd turned it the right way around) she couldn't figure out why everyone wanted her to say hello.
My mother worked in her kitchen, and had prepared a feast for us all. I know she got out the good china and silver, though we didn't have real dining room furniture for many years to come. I miss her hostessing at holidays.
These photos are all from home movies that I may have published on another blog at one time or another.
Here's my contribution to the meme for this Sepia Saturday, a photo of "Lucky Christmas Customers 1934"
Today's quote: Hado
The one without any consumerism...
Well, there is the story of Christmas, which we all get to hear over and over, as well as it having been recorded in the Bible. That might not have had anyone trying to sell you something to give someone else. Maybe.
I salute all those parents who apologize to their children (through many years actually) because Santa hasn't brought them a.) what they asked for or b.) anything much at all or c.) whatever someone else has droned into their heads that they should have, or d.) more than just being kept warm, dry and fed.
Dickens did a great job of showing how Scrooge had a bad attitude, which could be changed by a loving family.
Then along came "It's a Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart, and don't forget little Natalie Wood with "Miracle on 34th St."
I apologize to my readers, that I haven't watched that many of the more recent Christmas movies. They were fun, and I watched them once. But not more than once, (except Home Alone.)
If I'm going to escape reality into imagination, I'd prefer something with magic, music and maybe pure adventure. Yes, Star Wars sometimes. I don't plan to go see Mary Poppins remake!
These photos are all from home movies that I may have published on another blog at one time or another.
Here's my contribution to the meme for this Sepia Saturday, a photo of "Lucky Christmas Customers 1934"
Today's quote: Hado
Walking through a Japanese garden, one truly feels the life force energy that is known as Hado. Hado isn't just present in Japan, but it is a concept that has existed in Japan for centuries. The two Japanese characters that make up the word Hado mean "wave" and "move" - perfect words to describe the energy vibrations that permeate all life. Hado is present in all things, animate and inanimate. It resides everywhere, even in the air and in people.
One of the most important principles of hado is to monitor your thoughts and intentions every day. Enjoy the improvements that you will create in your life and the world around you by consciously working with hado.
Friday, December 21, 2018
Celebrating the darkness
Happy Solstice.
As we await the dawn of a new year...the one that depends upon the tilt of our mother earth in relation to the sun, there's a pause, a moment when the earth has to change directions.
I am somehow aware of that shift in the tilt. I anticipate it, and try to imagine this large hunk of rock (lots of iron) slowing down in it's tilt, still spinning at the same rate (I hope), still navigating in its eliptical orbit...and suddenly it stops...and then tilts the other way.
I've finally felt up to wraping some gifts. Oh my. It was easy. Of course these are ones I can just hand to people. None of the major bubble wrap thing, and what size big box will I need?
I'm not sleeping the day away, but just most of it! I already had my list made out, and bought gifts starting in Oct. Now to get them to the people I chose them for! It will happen. In the great plan of things, not for Christmas I'm afraid. But for sometime in the next week...or so.
As we await the dawn of a new year...the one that depends upon the tilt of our mother earth in relation to the sun, there's a pause, a moment when the earth has to change directions.
I am somehow aware of that shift in the tilt. I anticipate it, and try to imagine this large hunk of rock (lots of iron) slowing down in it's tilt, still spinning at the same rate (I hope), still navigating in its eliptical orbit...and suddenly it stops...and then tilts the other way.
I've finally felt up to wraping some gifts. Oh my. It was easy. Of course these are ones I can just hand to people. None of the major bubble wrap thing, and what size big box will I need?
I'm not sleeping the day away, but just most of it! I already had my list made out, and bought gifts starting in Oct. Now to get them to the people I chose them for! It will happen. In the great plan of things, not for Christmas I'm afraid. But for sometime in the next week...or so.
Thursday, December 20, 2018
White Elephant Pot Luck at Studio
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Some thoughts to remember
For me, first I was able to give away something that I spend so much of my time thinking about, my fear. I really would like to live without it. And secondly, the thing that I put intention into for the new year is making a goddess out of clay each month. Quite a project!
Today's quote:
Courage has nothing to do with our determination to be great. It has to do with what we decide in that moment when we are called upon to be more.
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RITA DOVE
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Sunday, December 16, 2018
Another weather report - how dull
My life has been put on some kind of hold. I don't do what I plan to do. I can't get into the BMCA clay studio till Monday because of flooding. That's ok.
I need to lie down and take a nap at least once a day. And lying down I just fall asleep and wake up and go back to sleep for hours. Drat and darn.
So that's how I'm not doing what a week ago I thought I would be doing.
I'm also eating easy fixing things...lots of soup, toast, bagels, fruit, and some fast food. I have the fixings for a good soup, but haven't cleaned up the kitchen for a few days. So it's not a good idea to make a bigger mess yet.
Maybe soon.
See, my health report is duller than the weather report. Snow is mostly gone now, after a day and half of steady rain, light but cold.
I need to lie down and take a nap at least once a day. And lying down I just fall asleep and wake up and go back to sleep for hours. Drat and darn.
So that's how I'm not doing what a week ago I thought I would be doing.
I'm also eating easy fixing things...lots of soup, toast, bagels, fruit, and some fast food. I have the fixings for a good soup, but haven't cleaned up the kitchen for a few days. So it's not a good idea to make a bigger mess yet.
Maybe soon.
See, my health report is duller than the weather report. Snow is mostly gone now, after a day and half of steady rain, light but cold.
Saturday, December 15, 2018
Snow everywhere!
It's mid December, and we had snow starting to fall a week ago Saturday. I've actually been out every day except Sun and maybe Mon. Just to drive around where it's been plowed. Schools in Buncombe County were closed M-W, and a 3 hour late start on Thurs, but open Fri I think. I wonder how working parents deal with having youngsters with no school to go to. I bet lots of the parents are also home bound.
The Black Mountain Christmas Parade (rescheduled for Saturday) was canceled. Today (Friday) has been in 40s and almost constant rain. Fortunately tonight is due to stay warm, so perhaps more snow will melt away. The piles along all the roads and parking lots have limited some of the places we can go. And that's probably why nobody wanted to try to see a parade, since you can't even stand next to the main streets to watch it go by with the 2 foot high piles of snow. Wet weather isn't going to bring many people out either.
I'm parking so that at least one of my front wheels is on pavement, which makes for interesting angles in the parking lots. But everyone else is also dealing with this. I wear snow boots, which have some nice grooves on the bottom to grip in icy snowy places. There is just a bit of slush, which is finally responsive to an indent from my boot. For several days, the snow had too much ice and I'd clump my boots in it to get traction. And hold onto any solid thing nearby (like cars I was walking by.)
I worked in the BMCA* studio yesterday and today, made a small figure of Brigid...every time I've attempted to make that goddess/Saint, I've had trouble with the clay drying too fast. So she's bagged up and hopefully will dry slowly since the rain will make the air in the studio damp. It also may leak under the walls and flood the floors. We had the shop vac out today trying to keep the floor dry...but we left at 1 pm. I'm thinking it may or may not be open as scheduled at noon tomorrow.
*Black Mountain Center for the Arts.
I'm looking forward to a day with sunshine, even if the nights are growing longer each day until the 21st, Winter Solstice. I've got several rituals to attend, so that's something I'm looking forward to.
I'm not quite feeling 100% these days...having finished the antibiotics, now working on the residual side effects. So I had a nice long nap this afternoon. Today I did my evening breathing treatment with the nebulizer while watching "It's a Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed...script and acting were so intricate even in a black and white film.
The Black Mountain Christmas Parade (rescheduled for Saturday) was canceled. Today (Friday) has been in 40s and almost constant rain. Fortunately tonight is due to stay warm, so perhaps more snow will melt away. The piles along all the roads and parking lots have limited some of the places we can go. And that's probably why nobody wanted to try to see a parade, since you can't even stand next to the main streets to watch it go by with the 2 foot high piles of snow. Wet weather isn't going to bring many people out either.
I'm parking so that at least one of my front wheels is on pavement, which makes for interesting angles in the parking lots. But everyone else is also dealing with this. I wear snow boots, which have some nice grooves on the bottom to grip in icy snowy places. There is just a bit of slush, which is finally responsive to an indent from my boot. For several days, the snow had too much ice and I'd clump my boots in it to get traction. And hold onto any solid thing nearby (like cars I was walking by.)
I worked in the BMCA* studio yesterday and today, made a small figure of Brigid...every time I've attempted to make that goddess/Saint, I've had trouble with the clay drying too fast. So she's bagged up and hopefully will dry slowly since the rain will make the air in the studio damp. It also may leak under the walls and flood the floors. We had the shop vac out today trying to keep the floor dry...but we left at 1 pm. I'm thinking it may or may not be open as scheduled at noon tomorrow.
*Black Mountain Center for the Arts.
I'm looking forward to a day with sunshine, even if the nights are growing longer each day until the 21st, Winter Solstice. I've got several rituals to attend, so that's something I'm looking forward to.
I'm not quite feeling 100% these days...having finished the antibiotics, now working on the residual side effects. So I had a nice long nap this afternoon. Today I did my evening breathing treatment with the nebulizer while watching "It's a Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed...script and acting were so intricate even in a black and white film.
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Tuesday notes as snow melts
He says turquoise and lab opal. I think it's beautiful!
And sending a big yahoo! to Simone Biles, who was on Good Morning America this morning. (I had the sound turned off, just checking on closings that stream across the bottom of the screen.) I turned on the sound in time to hear her report of having kidney stones while winning medals, and doing a gymnastic feat that hadn't been done before! She also shared how valuable being on anti-anxiety medications has been and having regular therapy sessions. She was congratulated for this, but not for missing her doctor's appointment by being on the show!
Well she's a teen. What a young woman!
Now there was one more thing I was thinking about...let me try to remember!
How about this event from Thailand?
police in Thailand join protestors
Monday, December 10, 2018
It's Monday so it must be Bounty and Soul day
Volunteers unload produce from the Bounty and Soul truck, and then put the food in baskets for us to go by and take whatever we want, free. Us seniors get some things that are pretty high priced in some stores, but have been donated for us to enjoy. This week I came home with a baking potato for 2 (huge), a grapefruit, some cherry tomatoes, a lemon, a halo orange, a bag of 3 pounds of bartlett pears (unripe), a small serving of organic spinach...and I didn't take about half of the other things, 3 kinds of squash, eggplant, onions, cucumbers, bananas, apples and a few things I've forgotten.
Many of us will have plenty to eat this week, and certainly more variety in our meals. The same outfit will offer the same foods at 2 or 3 other sites this week. What a wonderful opportunity for those who don't receive government food subsidies, or maybe some do. But this program is helping so many of us. My refrigerator is full again.
I mentioned this beneficial outfit before in a post HERE.
Let's see, last week I used an eggplant and squash and onion and added some cheese, spaghetti sauce and Italian bread crumbs, drizzled some olive oil and made a faux eggplant parmesan. And I still have some left over...so I didn't get any of those ingredients this week. I was out with friends over the weekend, and each time I brought home a box to provide another meal...that way I justify ordering larger servings because they make 2 meals.
So getting to age 76, I've learned a few tricks...mainly to live more economically now that I'm on a "fixed income." The only things not fixed are the prices of things I need to purchase!
There's a great thrift shop (locally owned and operated) that provides pretty much of my wardrobe these days. I've learned the Goodwill people aren't really as friendly when they refused to give a homeless man a coat (or maybe it was a shirt.) Either way, what's with these people?
Saturday, December 8, 2018
My friend, the poet, musician
Annelinde Metzner
Just listen to her read her own words (in the link above) while improvising on the piano. A beautiful experience I would like to share with you today.
Annelinde Metzner in the Woods. Photo by Susa Silvermarie
Just listen to her read her own words (in the link above) while improvising on the piano. A beautiful experience I would like to share with you today.
Friday, December 7, 2018
The baby in the manger
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
So 10,500 bots can't be wrong
Or can they?
I posted about my son's engagement. Maybe the title caught someone's eye (an algorithm probably)
One commentator said they were probably bots.
Wikipedia has information about bots:
I posted about my son's engagement. Maybe the title caught someone's eye (an algorithm probably)
One commentator said they were probably bots.
Wikipedia has information about bots:
SOURCE: Wikipedia.
So the announcing post got about 2000 hits (is that the right term?) Blogger says these are pageviews.
My other bog about pottery is the one that got 10,500 pageviews, the same day.
And the blog about living in Black Mountain NC got 1500 pageviews...same day and time.
My kind-of inactive blog about my ancestors did have a spike on the chart, of 54 pageviews.
Does anyone know if there's a problem? I worry. I'm 76, I'm allowed to worry.
But I haven't been in a computer class, like most of my grandkids have.
Monday, December 3, 2018
Finally putting my feet up!
What a day...
unloaded the pots, went to a harp concert, moved my furniture changed around to include a new shelving unit, which will help a lot... (thanks, Russ)
just watched the Concert for George Harrison on PBS, how very lovely.
Just checked the stats on my various blogs...oh la la. Some 10,000 on one, 2000 on one, only a few less on another. A couple of these were posted to Facebook.
That's what happens when I post my blog to FB. I think I may not do it any more. And I removed the blog that triggered all those hits. Sorry son, your engagement was interesting to too many strangers!
I do have some control, only about when comments are posted...so I'm moderating my comments again. But how do I keep all those counts from coming into my blog, which aren't real people but what I call hackers. They don't care a whit about me or my blog. And maybe they aren't even just hits, but trying to get my information. I don't know. I worry about it.
Any suggestions?
unloaded the pots, went to a harp concert, moved my furniture changed around to include a new shelving unit, which will help a lot... (thanks, Russ)
just watched the Concert for George Harrison on PBS, how very lovely.
Just checked the stats on my various blogs...oh la la. Some 10,000 on one, 2000 on one, only a few less on another. A couple of these were posted to Facebook.
That's what happens when I post my blog to FB. I think I may not do it any more. And I removed the blog that triggered all those hits. Sorry son, your engagement was interesting to too many strangers!
I do have some control, only about when comments are posted...so I'm moderating my comments again. But how do I keep all those counts from coming into my blog, which aren't real people but what I call hackers. They don't care a whit about me or my blog. And maybe they aren't even just hits, but trying to get my information. I don't know. I worry about it.
Any suggestions?
Sunday, December 2, 2018
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