Saturday, March 16, 2013
Smoke
With all the smoke we have had coming into the Rio Rancho/Albuquerque area I decided to take some photos of it this evening. The sun, (yes, that is the sun, and not the moon) could be looked at with the naked eye with so much smoke in front of it. But I couldn't get it to come out the red color it looked to me.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Christmas :: Past - Present - Future
=+==+==+= Christmas Past =+==+==+=
When I was younger, before the teenage years, my family always got together at Christmas time with my mother's sisters and brother and their families – usually at my grandfather's house.
As we got older it became more difficult for all of us to get together at Christmas - there were really too many of us to fit in anyone's home. (My mom had three sisters and one brother and altogether they had 19 children.) Then the years went by all too quickly and we all went our separate ways, some got married and had families of their own, others just went away! But as many of us that could, still got together at Christmas. Sometimes it was just Mom and her siblings, but there was almost always some kind of Christmas gathering.
In 1980, after being diagnosed with cancer and having her leg amputated, my Grandmother decided that it was time for the entire family to get together again for Christmas! My mother and I were living in rural Noble County and the township had a community building that we rented and we made all of the arrangements. By this time there were about 75 family members in four generations.
The biggest family Christmas dinner was held in December of 1983 – 28 years ago! It would be the last time this many of the family was together. I think there were only two cousins who were not able to attend. The picture below was taken at that dinner and includes almost everyone who was there. I was taking the picture. (Better double-click on the picture to see all those smiling faces!)
My grandmother is in the wheelchair (she passed away the following May), her sister Jane is sitting beside her, and my nephew Jason is sitting on grandma's lap. Jason was five years old then; he is now 33 years old and has an eight year old daughter of his own. All of those little kids have grown up and many now have families. It is more than a little sad to think about those who are no longer with us – Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Jane, Uncle Bob, Uncle Walt, Aunt Phyllis, cousin Mike, my sister, and my mother. But it is such a pleasure to think of them and remember the good times we all had together.
=+==+==+= Christmas Present =+==+==+=
Christmas this year was spent in northeast Louisiana with extended family members. Twelve of us gathered together on Christmas Eve to celebrate. After a very good dinner of spicy Jambalaya we moved into the living room to continue one of their traditional events – caroling by telephone! As each family member who could not be present was called we all joined in with a hearty rendition of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” I lost track of how many people were called... East Coast, West Coast, and places in-between as well as one couple who was on their honeymoon on a Caribbean Island (they had gotten married earlier this year) and another couple who was vacationing in Thailand! It was a lot of fun.
=+==+==+= Christmas Future =+==+==+=
Ah, the future. Wouldn't it be great to get all of my first cousins and their families together again? Some of us do maintain contact on Facebook so we have stayed in touch that way. But it isn't the same as being together, in person. Many of that next generation – the cousins' children and grandchildren - have never met some of their cousins. I'm sure that some have no idea how many relatively-close relatives they really have!
Of course, it would be a logistical (and financial) nightmare but I think it would be great fun to meet up, oh, say in Hawaii or perhaps on a cruise ship – someplace warm! Just spend a week together doing various activities and have time to leisurely get caught up on all the family news.
Written for the 113th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy, "A Charles Dickens Christmas."
When I was younger, before the teenage years, my family always got together at Christmas time with my mother's sisters and brother and their families – usually at my grandfather's house.
As we got older it became more difficult for all of us to get together at Christmas - there were really too many of us to fit in anyone's home. (My mom had three sisters and one brother and altogether they had 19 children.) Then the years went by all too quickly and we all went our separate ways, some got married and had families of their own, others just went away! But as many of us that could, still got together at Christmas. Sometimes it was just Mom and her siblings, but there was almost always some kind of Christmas gathering.
In 1980, after being diagnosed with cancer and having her leg amputated, my Grandmother decided that it was time for the entire family to get together again for Christmas! My mother and I were living in rural Noble County and the township had a community building that we rented and we made all of the arrangements. By this time there were about 75 family members in four generations.
The biggest family Christmas dinner was held in December of 1983 – 28 years ago! It would be the last time this many of the family was together. I think there were only two cousins who were not able to attend. The picture below was taken at that dinner and includes almost everyone who was there. I was taking the picture. (Better double-click on the picture to see all those smiling faces!)
My grandmother is in the wheelchair (she passed away the following May), her sister Jane is sitting beside her, and my nephew Jason is sitting on grandma's lap. Jason was five years old then; he is now 33 years old and has an eight year old daughter of his own. All of those little kids have grown up and many now have families. It is more than a little sad to think about those who are no longer with us – Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Jane, Uncle Bob, Uncle Walt, Aunt Phyllis, cousin Mike, my sister, and my mother. But it is such a pleasure to think of them and remember the good times we all had together.
=+==+==+= Christmas Present =+==+==+=
Christmas this year was spent in northeast Louisiana with extended family members. Twelve of us gathered together on Christmas Eve to celebrate. After a very good dinner of spicy Jambalaya we moved into the living room to continue one of their traditional events – caroling by telephone! As each family member who could not be present was called we all joined in with a hearty rendition of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” I lost track of how many people were called... East Coast, West Coast, and places in-between as well as one couple who was on their honeymoon on a Caribbean Island (they had gotten married earlier this year) and another couple who was vacationing in Thailand! It was a lot of fun.
=+==+==+= Christmas Future =+==+==+=
Ah, the future. Wouldn't it be great to get all of my first cousins and their families together again? Some of us do maintain contact on Facebook so we have stayed in touch that way. But it isn't the same as being together, in person. Many of that next generation – the cousins' children and grandchildren - have never met some of their cousins. I'm sure that some have no idea how many relatively-close relatives they really have!
Of course, it would be a logistical (and financial) nightmare but I think it would be great fun to meet up, oh, say in Hawaii or perhaps on a cruise ship – someplace warm! Just spend a week together doing various activities and have time to leisurely get caught up on all the family news.
Written for the 113th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy, "A Charles Dickens Christmas."
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
The Estate of Jacob Switzer :: Final Account
There were three men (actually four, another has been found) with the name of Jacob Switzer who resided in Columbiana County, Ohio during the 1805-1860 time period. This estate file is for the Jacob Switzer who is my 4th great-grandfather and who married first Catherine Brinker (in 1811, the mother of his children) and second Leathy Bricker (in 1853). Jacob died on November 2, 1859. (Yes, I know this paragraph is redundant and has been in each post regarding the Estate, but I felt it needed to be here to distinguish this Jacob from the others...)
So that the “important” data would fit within the width allowed by the blog, I've left off the month and day in the transcription where it was noted in the document and also the voucher number.
Accountant says that he took vouchers for the $20 above set forth as paid to L. W. Pottter and for the $805.20 paid the widow, but that the same can not now be found. He also states that he does not know the amount of interest collected on each of the notes set-forth in this account but believes the gross amount herein stated to be the full amount received.
Final Account of the Estate of Jacob Switzer. Probate Packet 4962. Columbiana County, Ohio
The State of Ohio, Columbiana County, ss.
I, Daniel Deemer Administrator of the Estate of Jacob Switzer do make solemn oath that the above is a true and correct account of said Estate, as I verily believe.
Sworn and Subscribed to this 17th day of March A. D. 1870. D. Deemer
Before me, Solomon J. Firestone, Probate Judge.
So that the “important” data would fit within the width allowed by the blog, I've left off the month and day in the transcription where it was noted in the document and also the voucher number.
| [Date] 1859 1859 1860 1859 1859 1859 1859 1860 1860 1864 1859 1860 1860 1860 1860 1861 1861 1861 1861 1859 1859 1860 - - | By am't paid, E. Eeld B. F. Humfrees [?] Geo Arter Catharine Mitcheley Paul & Pritchard Ezekial Shelton Samuel Burger W. E. McLaughlin Philip Simon James Martin Appraisers Geo. Frud Dr. D. Springer Dr. D. Deemer L. W. Potter Jacob Yarian & wife Jacob Manaweck & wife Peter Buchecker & wife D. Deemer Leathy Switzer Leathy Switzer Leathy Switzer Confirmation ofTotal | [reason] for coffin & case Servis [?] Taking care of stock for Labor Store Bill On Note Calling Sale Clerking Sauring [?] Probate Fees Fees Grave Stones Medical Attendance Medical Attendance Atty Fees Distribution Share Distribution Share Distribution Share Distribution Share Widow's Allowance Widows Share part Widows Share full Administration Disbursed | Dolls Cts25.0043.6812.0025.005.9630.002.0015.001.506.503.0025.003.005.0020.00702.60700.98700.98702.60258.52805.20600.00200.00$4893.42 |
Accountant says that he took vouchers for the $20 above set forth as paid to L. W. Pottter and for the $805.20 paid the widow, but that the same can not now be found. He also states that he does not know the amount of interest collected on each of the notes set-forth in this account but believes the gross amount herein stated to be the full amount received.
Final Account of the Estate of Jacob Switzer. Probate Packet 4962. Columbiana County, Ohio
The State of Ohio, Columbiana County, ss.
I, Daniel Deemer Administrator of the Estate of Jacob Switzer do make solemn oath that the above is a true and correct account of said Estate, as I verily believe.
Sworn and Subscribed to this 17th day of March A. D. 1870. D. Deemer
Before me, Solomon J. Firestone, Probate Judge.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Christmas Lights
These are our lights for Christmas. Electric ones and luminerias from our front door. Hard to take photos of lights.Emancipated But Still Vote Free Here in DC
It's Emancipation Day here in the District of Columbia which is sometimes called " the capital of the free world." In reality our fair city is a bizarre little fiefdom where the denizens are still denied the right to vote basically because Republicans fear that one more Democratic voice will tip the world into the abyss. DC Vote is working to change that. Check it out.
But now they only block the sun...
Sunday morning (August 15th) I woke up early and was just lying in my cot looking out the window when I noticed the sky getting brighter. Then when I looked toward the eastern sky it was filled with a beautiful pink and orange glow. I quickly changed clothes, grabbed the camera and walked to Land's End on the tip of the Homer Spit.
6:09 am
6:12 am
6:18 am
6:20 am
6:22 am
6:40 am
The colors began to fade as the sun started to make its appearance. I say “started” because the lower bank of clouds/fog quickly grew and the sun was hidden for yet another day.
I've cropped off the bottom portion of all photos except for one because that part didn't really add anything to the beauty and simplicity of the clouds and the colors.
The title of this post comes from the song Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell.
6:09 am6:12 am6:18 am6:20 am6:22 am6:40 amThe colors began to fade as the sun started to make its appearance. I say “started” because the lower bank of clouds/fog quickly grew and the sun was hidden for yet another day.
I've cropped off the bottom portion of all photos except for one because that part didn't really add anything to the beauty and simplicity of the clouds and the colors.
The title of this post comes from the song Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell.
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