Flowers in February

As I was pulling into Safeway parking lot this morning, I noticed this "homeless guy I think?" who had a light shirt on and was holding his arms like he was cold.  I wish I had had a jacket in the car as I would have given it to him.  Walked through produce first and just shook my head when I saw green onions were $1 a bunch.  Used to be 39 cents, I'm sure.  Sigh....  I bypassed ice cream and it's getting easier all the time as I think my "problem" has improved and I'm contributing that to dairy products.  Cheese has been the hardest thing to avoid although I did buy some yesterday as I have some dishes I want to make for dinner and they all require cheese.  I figure moderation is the name of the game but I'll still avoid ice cream, puddings, milk, yogurt, and cream cheese.  I fixed a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup for dinner last night 'cause I wanted something hot and easy.  I'm still standing.

Got a nice surprise as I stood in line behind this woman (about my age) who had over $200 worth of groceries.  As she was leaving, she handed me a bouquet of red tulips.  Not often standing in line is remembered as a nice time.  Made me decide that I'm going to pay it forward on a regular basis from now on.  The clerks were amazed too. Tulips have always been my favorite flower.

When I got home, I found this cute little pink bathtub and bear on my porch that Joy Bland had dropped off. I knew she was coming but I didn't think she would be there that early.  Such a cute addition for my collection. Thank you Joy!

Watched two movies from Red Box last night. 'Gone Girl' had me on the edge of my seat but I sure didn't care for the ending.  The story was full of twists and turns.  Excellent plot.  The second movie was a waste of my time.  I always check the story outline and reviews on IMDB before watching and "John Wick" had a fairly high rating.  Wasn't deserved in my opinion.  Nothing but killing one guy after another. Most shot in the face. Boring.  Starred Keanu Reeves and he really needs to do something with his hair!  Looked like hell!  He's aged a whole lot in the twenty years since Speed came out.

Sure is looking nice out there today. Especially compared to the rainfall yesterday. I plan on getting a walk in.  Maybe I'll see if Maddie will go with me.

Last night as I sat in my recliner, I kept hearing this buzz.  I'd pick up my phone thinking the settings had gone screwy again (it does that) but nothing was there and everything was as it should be.  On the third buzz I investigated more and discovered this big ole bee on the floor.  Wondered if he came in through the heat vent.  How could that be?  Must have come in when I went out to retrieve the trash cans from the alley as I left the door open.  I have noticed a bees nest under the top deck step that I'm hoping Hunter will help me get rid of. 

Anyhow, back to this bee...  I threw a heavy book on him and when I picked it up, he was still moving. I put the book back on him and stood on the book!  Picked up the book and he was still moving.  Went to find a shoe and put that on him and pressed with my hand.  He was still moving.  I finally grabbed two tissues, picked him up and threw him outside on the porch --where he was still moving.  I hope this isn't an indication of what I can expect with bees this summer.  Some years they're a real nuisance on my deck and I can't even sit out there.

I made a decision today and am hoping I can stick to it.  One of my morning routines is to turn on the morning news shows to see if anything interesting has occurred overnight.  It doesn't take any time at all for my irritation to be sparked by all the blah blah  offered on ALL the channels.  Local news is especially annoying. Especially the commentators. They're getting worse all the time.  I always end up turning on my Pandora Music channel or KIXI 88 AM radio via my Roku device through the TV. (can't pick it up otherwise as Port Angeles is too remote)

A lot of the time I can stomach the Fox channel longer than the others but they're gaining in my disfavor, as well.  None of my daughters watch the news and I think they've got the right idea.  I'm only letting myself get worked up and it's time to make a change.  The ads for the drug companies are clogging all the airways and when I have to hear all the networks making a huge story out of whether a dress is a certain color....well, enough is enough.  They're not going to be allowed on in my house anymore!  

Through the years, I've banished several folks.  If I hear their voice or a story about them, the mute button is pushed or the TV is turned off.  This list includes Obama, Donald Trump, the Kardashians, Justin Beiber, all the women of The View and the Talk, Miley Cyrus, Jerry Springer, Judge Judy, most of the Seattle news teams (the women more than the men drive me nuts!), Kanye West, Dr. Phil, and all audiences of Ellen DeGeneres, who go way overboard in their screaming.  We all know why--they're gonna' get free stuff, for crying out loud!

I need to eliminate sources of stress and I'm starting with my remote control.  I feel a whole new world opening up for me.  I just went outside to clean up some pots on the porch a little bit and took this shot of my little friends living under the steps.  Ick!

One day in a row

I actually got out and walked today.  The waterfront trail downtown is ideal 'cause there are several benches along the way and I've found if I can sit down for even 30 seconds now and then, I'm good to go a while longer.  I stayed out for about 45 minutes.  Came across a group of young moms (strollers have changed sooooo much since my days of pushing children) and I took some pictures of them as they stopped to do stretching exercises on the way back.

Noticed a few homeless guys here and there too.  Younger gents but you could tell.  I stopped to talk to one as I had my Ipod plugged in and a song by Queen came on that I wanted to know the name of.
He knew it and I suspect he would have liked to talk longer as he asked me "what's up?"  And do I listen to Queen.  I told him no, I was more a fan of Bob Dylan.'

Noticed one house along the upper trail that I think I would sell if it was mine. Just seems so silly to have a house built on cliffs in an area where we can get heavy rain.

It is a beautiful view, though.  Not so much this morning as it was cloudy.

I took two more pictures on the way home. One while stopped at a traffic light of the Federal Building and another on 12th Street as it indicated spring was on the way.

I watched Dawn of the Planet of Apes on pay-for-view last night. It just "okay" but definitely better than that stupid Birdman!  I probably should limit myself to two movies a week since there is a lot of free stuff I can tune in on Netflix and Amazon Prime.  I did notice, though, that The Theory of Everything is available and so is Whiplash.

Woke up with a horrible charlie horse cramp this morning. Man, I hate those buggers!  Going to have to go out and buy some potassium and magnesium tablets again, I guess.

Jenni is going to scrapbook camp this weekend so I'll be picking the twins up at high school the next two afternoons.  Window guy is coming tomorrow to measure for the free replacement needed.  And that's about it.  I better get up and move around. I'm getting sleepy. And it's only 5:30!

Gonna be a fun day

Nothing much planned and what pleases me is that NO housework is on the agenda. I did it all yesterday.  One of the pluses of living alone.  I'm sitting at the kitchen table about to start my daily crossword puzzle on the Yahoo website and then I'll be jumping over to ancestry.com.

I'm researching Blankenships  and am going through each of the aunts and uncles that my g. grandfather had. Today is Amy Blanche Blankenship who married Samuel Baxter Weir.  Sometimes listed as Wear. She was born in 1822 and I've already found data from another person's family tree. Mostly on Samuel but it's a start.

Saw that 'Birdman' was available to rent on Amazon Prime for $5 so I watched it last night.  For the first half hour, I kept waiting for it to get going.  Two hours later when it concluded I was glad I didn't pay theater prices to watch it.  What a rotten movie.  Stupid and not at all worthy (in my opinion) as best picture of the year.  No way!  But the Oscars are like that.  If you want to put a great website in your favorites, visit filmsite.org/oscars

I realize movie tastes vary and no one is ever going to agree on best picture of the year but some of the worst choices for me include these --
The English Patient winning over Fargo or Shine
The Departed over The Queen
No Country for old men over Juno or Michael Clayton
The Hurt Locker over The Blind Side
The Artist over The Help or The Descendants.

This last one, especially.  I thought The Artist was right up there with Birdman as worst pick.

I saw a cute video on Facebook this morning so I think I'll go to YouTube and see if I can find it to post here. You'd have to be a fan of House of Cards to get it.

Sunny Monday

I had to turn the heat on when I got up this morning but once I got the chill off the house and the sun started streaming in, I was glad to turn off the heat.  I've even got the sliding glass door open now (but I still have a sweater on).  Noticed my bird feeder in the back yard is empty so I made a quick Swains run to pick up another bag.  Stopped by Safeway too as I can always find something I need as long as I'm in the neighborhood.

I came home and pulled out four cookbooks to look over recipes and see what I could whip up over the next two or three weeks.  My menu has been so boring lately, I knew I had to make a little bit of an effort.  Now I have to go back to the store and buy a million ingredients.  I'm exaggerating, of course, but the list is still long.

Recipes that caught my eye were green pea salad, waldorf salad, crock pot chowder, chicken quesadillas, red beans & rice, split pea soup, lentil salad, crab cakes, clam chowder, and a master mix that you can use for everything from biscuits to pancakes to pizza.  Now I have to get in the mood to cook.

I had a housework list this morning too.  More than usual.  The regular stuff plus little odds and ends---like soaking my dish strainer in the bathtub with bleach. Am hoping it will clean it up. Normally, I wouldn't even notice but I guess the sun shining up the room is exposing dirt I'd normally miss.

Wasn't impressed with the Oscar show last night.  Parts of it were okay but the MC fell flat and you could tell he was desperate for laughs when he came onstage in his underpants.  Might have been more interesting if he was a manly man but he's just a skinny little twerp.  His mother must be so proud.

A friend of mine has a son who won a Grammy years ago when he was in a popular band.  Because of that, he gets to vote for best picture for the Screen Actors Guild and gets copies of the movies that are nominated. My friend was visiting him and got to bring home two movies to watch.  Is that cool or what?!

The 'short' I was hoping would win didn't but it did give me the idea that I need to pursue where I can watch 'shorts.'  I'm pretty sure my Roku has a channel that takes you there. I'm going to check it out. I think I may start watching foreign movies too.  They always look so good on the Oscar show.  I'm looking forward to a lot of the movies mentioned last night.  Not sure how many I will actually go to a movie house to see but I "might" take in a couple.  Maybe Still Alice and American Sniper.  I need to find someone to go with me. I'm not all that fond of going to shows alone (but I could).

Called the guy who installed windows in the house when it was built and thankfully, they're all under a lifetime warranty. They're coming out to replace it soon free of charge.  Yay!

My half sister in prison in PA told me the snow is up to her waist back there and they're hauling it out the gate daily.  (And how many people can write that on their blog?) ha ha

Well, I've got to open up the link sausages I bought and make them up into 2-pc pkgs for the freezer.  Made three salads yesterday so I'll have one of those for supper with the garlic bread I bought.

Mary & Andy had to put a gate across their tv 'cause they were afraid Jake would pull it down on himself.  He is into everything. Here he is sharing his bear with a kid on a show.

Mary's dad and his wife stopped in yesterday to bring a rocking horse to Jake and he was apparently quite happy with it.  Mary sent me this picture of John and Jake.  I know John reads my blog so I'm guessing he'll be surprised to see himself on here.

I guess I'd better get out and about and take some pictures. It's getting pretty bad when you're using ones of your ex husband.  ha ha ha ha ha

Oscar Night

Watched a terrific documentary on Netflix last night called 'And the Oscar Goes To'.  It was an hour and a half of clips and interviews from dozens of past and present stars.  I didn't get any knitting done as I couldn't take my eyes off the screen.  They featured everybody from Groucho Marx to Bradley Cooper. Was especially interesting to hear the feelings of  people who had lost.

This morning I saw a 'Short' that is nominated for an award tonight.  It made me laugh out loud and I hope it wins. Called 'A Single Life.'  Animated and very funny.  About this young girl who discovers she can FF or back up her life by taking a needle off the record she's playing on her phonograph. She uses it to envision meeting Mr. Right, getting pregnant, having a baby and then she accidentally hits the needle and it shows her in a wheel chair as an old woman. As she struggles to get back to the needle on the record player, it skips and she is walking with a walker (hasn't hit wheelchair status yet) and then she hits it again and an urn plops onto the floor with the lid jiggling.  You had to see it to appreciate it.

I was very aware yesterday that my stability working around outside was not all that stable.  I have to go down steps one at a time and I have to have something to hang on to.  When walking around the uneven lawn and over hoses, etc. I realized I wasn't stepping gracefully.  I think I've always known things have changed but I was especially aware of it yesterday as I watched Hunter go up and down the ladder and carry the bucket of water like it was empty.  'Course I realize he's a teenager and I'm an old lady but still.... it was unsettling to remember that I'm not steady on my feet these days.  Just another reminder that I'd best get off my butt and get out their for some daily walks.  Talk is cheap so now I have to see if I can put my money where my mouth is.  Or something like that.

I was kind of surprised to see the neighborhood roofs all covered with white frost this morning. Then again, it is February, after all. Sun is shining brightly now at 9:30 a.m. so looks like it's going to be nice.

Have been organizing my Blankenship notes to proceed with the switch to a family name I hope I'll have more success with than the Downs search was.

 My mother is 89 years old today.  Always makes you wonder a bit if you'll live as long as your parents did.  Can't predict a thing in that area, though.  My dad lived to be 86.  His dad was 82 but his mom died at 55 (Pneumonia). On my mother's side, her dad (biological) lived to be 95 but her mom died at 35 (TB).

Her adoptive parents both died in their 60's, and I've always thought it interesting that her adoptive mom and her biological mom died within 4 months of each other in 1942.

Well, time to get busy.  My social calendar looks pretty empty for the next couple of weeks.  I guess it's a good thing I'm contented with my own company most of the time. And here's a picture of my favorite town.

Productive Saturday in February

I set my laptop up at the kitchen table this morning and transferred various notes to work on for Blankenship genealogy files.  I've got so many files scattered here and there and way too many with the same info that it took me most of the day to cut and paste what I want into one working document.

Other people have shared a ton of info online so I used some of their data to  begin the piece but will focus my search starting with Zadock (my g.g. grandfather) who was born in 1798.  Zadock married Sarah Jones and had 10 kids.  When she died (probably from having too many kids) he remarried Elizabeth Bolt and had six more kids. My great grandfather, Lewis, is one of these six kids and the one who married Jane Downs.

I won't bore you with the details but I did want to share three wills that were written generations ago as I find them entertaining.

     "Dec 18, 1812, In the name of God Amen I Hudson Blankenship of the County of Campbell

and state of Virginia being of perfect mind of body and memory thanks be to God calling into mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say principally and first of all I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors:  I give demise and dispose of my estate in the following manner and form:  first I give to my beloved wife, Edy Balnkenship, one hundred acres of land to include the house and plantation where I now live and the whole of my household and kitchen furniture also my stock of Horses, cattle, hogs, and sheep and with my plantation utensils.  Also all the money I have due either in notes or account to have and to hold so long as she the Edy Blankenship my wife, shall live and after her decease to be equally divided between my Children.  Also I give the balance of my tract of land not given to my wife to my son, Henry Blankenship, to him and his heirs forever.  Lastly I constitute and appoint Thomas Cook and Archibald Blankenship my executors to this my last will and testament.

 In witness I have set my hand and seal this eighteenth day of December

Eighteen hundred twelve."  Hudson  (X) Blankenship

witnessed by Thomas Baugh, Charles and  Jordon McKinney

Will for Jesse Blankenship

1870, Russell Co., KY, Will

               I, Jesse Blankenship of the County of Russell and the State of Kentucky do hereby make my last Will and testiment.

               First I give and desire that my Daughter Edy George has and hold a certain portion of my lands hereafter designated during her natural lifetime. for her benovelence and kindness toward me in my old and last days. Beginning with a Sycamore Tree standing in the edge of the river between the Boat and foot landing at Blankenship's Ferry and running through to Boyd's line so as to include my dwelling to.

               I furthur desire that out of my Estate all of my just debts and funeral Expenses be paid after my decease and the Balance to belong to my said Daughter Edy George to be sold or manage as she or my Executor here after named may think proper. Lastly I appoint Jo. Ballenger my Executor with my will annexed June 8, 1869

                                                            Jesse X Blankenship   his mark

Will of Ralph Blankenship:

1754 Chesterfield Co., VA

Will bk. 1  Admitted 8 Nov 1754

               In the name of God amen I Ralph Blankinship of Chesterfield being of sick and weak, but of perfect mind and memory do make this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following )  First I give and bequeath my soul to God that gave it in hope of  his acceptance thereof  through the Merritts of Christ my Savior and my body  to the yearth from whence it was taken to be buried by the discresion of my Executor.

Item I give and bequeath to my son, Ephraim the land and plantation he now lives on containing on hundred acres more or less to him and his heirs forever and one shilling sterling.

Item  I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Elizabeth, the plantation I now live on during her natural life or widow hood and after her decease to my son, Jeremiah, and his heirs forever and if Jeremiah should die before he come of age then the land to fall to my son, William and his heirs.

Item  I give to my beloved wife the fether bed and furniture that she call her own to be at her own disposall at her decease.

Item   I give to my son, Francis, one cow and calf.

Item   I give my son, Fredrick, one bed and furniture as it now stands.

Item   I give to Matthew one bed and furniture as it now stands.  My will is that if my son, Fredrick, should die before he be of lawful age that Jeremiah shall have his bed.

Item   I give to my son, John, one shilling sterling.

Item   I give to my son, Ralph, one shill: sterling.

Item   I give to my son, William, one shill: sterling.

Item   My will is that my beloved wife, Elizabeth, shall have possession of and enjoy of all the remainder of my Estate not before given away during her natural life or widowhood and at her death or marriage to be equally divided betwixt Matt, Fredrick, and Jeremiah.

Item   I give to my daughter, Sarah Cobb, one shill.

Item   My will is that my Estate shall not be appraised.  I also appoint my son, William Blankinship, my hole and sole Executor of this my last will revoking and disanulling all wills heretoffore by me made.

 In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 20th day of September 1754.     

               Ralph (X) Blankinship, Jr. Signed sealed and delivered in presence of: Elizabeth (X) Blankenship

               John Ward,William Wilson

My grandson, Hunter, came over to clean my gutters today.  What a job. He had to climb up on the ladder with a bucket of water and soap and then climb down and work his way around the whole house. Sure looks nice, though.

                                                               before and after

 When he finished, we went to the old Albertsons Store (now Haggens) to look it over.  Hunter mowed my front and side lawn while here and only requested a coke and doughnut for pay. I got off easy.  His dad had loaded up the truck for a trip to the dump so him and Hunter were going to do that later.  Jenni was thrilled to finally get their old toilet out of the backyard.

Hunter showed me the old pickup he bought and the cab he's going to put on it.  Also showed me various things he's working on in the garage (which has now become his hangout) He's such a boy!

Took a picture of Jenni's backyard. Looks a lot bigger since they took away the swing set.

My granddaughter, Catie is coming to PA March 21 to be in a craft fair with her mom at a local church.  They make jewelry and hair accessories.  Catie posted a picture on Facebook of where she wants to live.  (a bead shop near her apartment)

Got a phone call a little while ago from Joyce Lee Adams (class of '58). She likes going to the casino sometimes and today she went to the Elwha.  Had $40 in her pocket and was down to 14 cents!  Planned to play the last penny down and go home when she hit a jackpot. Was playing 40 cents a hit and won $271!  Yay!  That's what I  like to hear.

Movin' On

I'm throwing in the towel.  I've spent way too much time trying to find certain facts in my family tree. I have  found little odds and ends I didn't have before, buy I still haven't been able to find the details I wanted on Jane Downs, my g. grandmother on my dad's side.  I'd like to know her middle name, place of birth,  her mother's name; her dad's middle name; her sibling's names, and how she relocated from Delaware to Illinois. Would also like to know if she gave birth to a son named Charlie.  I'd also like to know when her folks died and where.

That's a whole lot of stuff I should be able to locate but  I keep hitting that dang ole brick wall!  I collected all my paperwork and notes (from the last six weeks) and filed them away.  I feel like I've been set free.  But..... I am going to start fresh on Blankenships again.  I can't just go cold turkey.  I've got a lot of files on the Blankenships but need to get them in better order and to fill in some gaps.  I think it's going to be a whole lot more productive than those Delaware relatives were.

I have a vague idea on some of Jane's details but nothing I can prove yet. I'm fairly certain she was born in Kent Co, DE in December of 1840.  I also think her name might be Mary Jane Downs instead of Jane M. Downs.  She also may have had an older brother name Jonathan, and I think she traveled to Illinois with a neighbor or relative name Zadock Clark.  At any rate, I'm going to put the Downs on the back burner and return to Blankenships and other relatives.  Maybe the Holts and my mother's biological family.  Hard to get interested in those family limbs you've never really got to know in person, though.

I pulled out half a dozen cookbooks this morning and intend to study some of them for new things to eat.  My menus have been SOOOOOO BORING.    It's hard to cook for one.  Doesn't help when you don't feel like cooking in the first place.  Tonight, for example, will probably be my ole pal, Marie Callendar again.  We have two grocery stores here in Port Angeles.  Safeway and Albertsons. Although it's not Albertsons as of this week as they changed the sign and I assume some of the inside stuff. I'm going to go up there tomorrow and look around.

Hope the weather stay nice as Hunter planned on coming over tomorrow to clean my gutters.  I may end up moving my laptop back to the kitchen table again.  It's hard to spread out my paper work if I'm into genealogy but more than that, it's hard to stay comfortable in here.  I turn on the heat and before long, it's so hot, I have to turn it off again.  I just can't find a happy medium.  Course if I was up and moving around, I wouldn't have this problem.  I keep thinking I need to start spending my hours sewing again. At least I would be a little more mobile as you have to get up to measure, cut, and press.

I've been watching '24' with Keifer Sutherland on Amazon Prime and am halfway through season 1. Hard to believe that was 14 years ago.  Am looking forward to the Oscars on Sunday night. As usual, I've seen few of the shows up for awards.  I did catch Boyhood on RedBox rentals and it was good.
I want to see American Sniper, Still Alice, Birdman, Whiplash, and The Imitation Game.  And believe it or not, I'm even thinking the Spongebob SquarePants movie might be a fun thing to see.

Interesting to hear the news about the dock workers causing havoc.  I remember (several years back)  being told by truck drivers coming into the mill that dealing with the longshoreman in Seattle and Tacoma was really hard as they did everything they could to make getting in and out of the shipyards a struggle.  Because they could.

And the story about hospitals not cleaning their instruments and passing on germs....that was one of the things that stuck with me when I took medical assistant classes at the college. Our teacher (a former nurse) said it was very common to find remnants of body skin and such after sterilizing because the people didn't use brushes on the serrated instruments and the sterilizer didn't get it off.
Isn't that a sweet thing to know when you have a surgery planned?!

I also thought it was ironic that we are now being told that eggs are good for you.  Dr. Atkins was saying that all along but he was chastised for it.  And all of a sudden, five cups of coffee is fine?  Oh brother, the things we're expected to buy in on these days.  It never ends from month to month. I try not to listen to any of them.

Noticed Justin Bieber is trying to make his comeback.  And there are plenty of stupid people out there to help him do it!  I was hoping we wouldn't have to see his pretty boy face anymore!  Jerk.

Two cooking tips for today:

Trouble separating the bacon strips out of the package? Just roll it into a tight cylinder shape before opening it. Easy Separation from that point on

Roll your sausage patties in flour before frying them up. They won't crack open during cooking.  Hmmmm. do they mean sausage links or patties?  Oh well, I'll just buy my usual links anyhow.

Am I the only one who is sick to death of hearing about the looney tunes killer of the American Sniper trial?  The media, as usual, is running it over and over and over.  Also the Las Vegas shooting. How many times do we have to hear the same details? Move on!

Sure am happy happy I don't live in the east.  Those poor people dealing with the cold.

Just looked through my stash and grabbed any ole picture for today. Here's the gym as it looked in 2011 when my class took a tour of the high school.

Still plowing along on family roads

It's a little after noon and the sun is shining. I should be outside going for a walk but I can't quite convince myself that I actually want to.  I'd rather sit here by the heat vent and look for dead relatives on ancestry.com.

I found this family tree submitted by a guy who recorded a lot of names and dates I needed so I think I'm a little closer at connecting the Hilfords and the Downs. I've got to play around with it a little more to make sure the dates match up.  Jane Downs was my g. grandmother and I've had a heck of a time figuring out her family links. Her dad was Ben  Downs and he died when she was young. Ben's dad was named Henry and he married Mary Nixon. Henry's mother was an Owens and that's my link to Hilfords.  Confusing, to say the least.

Sometimes I find myself making my own family charts to suit my way of connecting the dots.  I'm going to work on the early 1800 census today.  Until they started recording actual names, it's a big guessing game.  Like this:

1820 census: Murder Hundred, Kent, DE

1 male bet 16-18

2 males bet 16-26

1 male 45 and over

1 female 26-45

1 female over 45

2 male slaves over 45

Once I get the census figured out a little better, I'll delve into the aunts and uncles of Ben so I can track down his cousins and such.  A lot of the time this leads you to the data you want.  Other relatives may research into one of Ben's siblings and ignore the others as they only want to know about their particular line.  Once my Ben data grows, I can post it and it will be there for other people to use.  Amazing how much is online these days.  Course there's never enough to please me. The pleasure is in the hunt.

I got a letter from the Children's Home Society in Seattle last week. I was hoping to find a little more info on my mother's adoption back in the 20s.  The lady was nice enough to send me this 3-page report from their files, and while I already had most of it, I did get a few tidbits I was unaware of.

My mother weighed 7-1/4 lbs at birth, for example, and her biological dad was gassed while in WWI in France. He also suffered from eczema.  My grandmother signed the relinquishment papers on Jan 3, 1927 and the Nisbets of Chimacum adopted her on Jan.11, 1927. (she was 11 months old then)

Dates always jump out at me and I noted that my mother was relinquished on the same day her future husband turned four.  In October of 1929, a follow-up visit was made to the Nisbets and this was noted: Parents are devoted to the child, whom they now call Alice. Her birth mark is still in evidence, but so far over on the temple that it's partly covered by hair. Mrs. Nisbet affectionately made the remark that she wouldn't be Alice without that mark. The Nisbet home is an ordinary country one, but at the same time filled with happiness. Mr. Nisbet is proud of James and Robert, both fine boys. Alice is her father's companion when the boys are in school.

May 14, 1930-- Order confirming adoption. My mother was four years old by this time, and the Nisbets were 50 and 51.  They changed her name from Harriet Yvonne Caufman to Alice Gray Nisbet.

House seems extra quiet now that Jake is gone.  I think he had a good time visiting gramma, but Mary tells me he was over the moon happy to get back to his house.  He walked around waving his arms up and down and smiling. Also konked out to sleep in record time.  Don't think his portable crib was as comfy as the regular one in his own room.  Mary also said she thinks he was very aware that they were getting closer as she approached their neighborhood as his excitement level rose. He was very happy to see his daddy too!

Can't think of much news offhand. Observed the cops walking a young teenage? girl to their car (in handcuffs) yesterday.  I can remember when you would NEVER see a scene like that.  The news just gets more horrific day by day.  I wish the powers that be around the world could get their act together and unite to wipe those stupid ISIS slimedogs off the face of the earth!  Jordan had the right idea!

Sounds like Jeb Bush is gonna' throw his hat in the ring.  I don't know much about him really.  I'll probably vote for Hillary.  Am especially looking forward to not having Obama's face and voice show up in my living room all the time.  Sometimes we just pick ineffectual leaders.  

Here's some totally cool pictures I got from Les Walden......

                                                              Daytona Beach in 1957

                                                                            cancer cells

                                                         overcrowded jail in El Salvador

                                                            George Washington's teeth

                                                                        Google data center

                                                               Hitler's office

                                                                  largest land vehicle

                                                       microscope image of a tongue

                                                                         octopus eggs

                                                  where the Great Wall of China ends

                                                  how a pug dog looked before selective breeding

My Saturday with Jake

Mary, Jenni, and Maddie were preparing to take Jake over to this popular park in Port Angeles.  It was time for my nap so Sammy the dog and I had crashed in my recliner.  I think Sammy was happy to stay home anyhow.  He was okay with Jake although there were a few times we had to remind Jake not to be too rough.  Sammy's main problem, however, was having to share Jake with Jenni.  He was jealous and wasn't all that excited to see Jake getting a lot of lap time.  Eventually Sammy decided he was okay and gave him a round of "dog kisses".  I don't think Jake knew what to make of it all...but he liked it!

We fixed hamburgers for supper with sweet potato fries and beans.  Mary bought all the chow, bless her heart --plus a lot of things just for my pantry.  I love shopping with her. She never looks at prices. If she wants it, she buys it.

                                                       That was a good cupcake!

                       I laughed as Jake climbed right up onto the fridge shelf to reach an orange

                                              Playing at the park with cousin Maddie

                                                 This is my tent (or fort)

                                               Wayne and the twins after supper

                                      I can turn off the TV over and over again

                                         Mickey Mouse Club ... this looks good

                     He was very interested in watching all the other kids at the park

Noticed some purple crocus sprouting in the back yard when we were outside playing.

After Jenni, Wayne, the twins and Sammy left (and Jake's bath was done), he was put down for the night and Mary and I settled in to watch a movie on demand.  She had seen Robert Duvall and Robert Downey, Jr. in  The Judge and wanted me to see it too.  I'd been looking for it at RedBox but it was always out so I was pleased to find it on Amazon Prime.  Cost is a little more ($4 vrs. $1.50) but I don't have to drive back to Walgreens to return it.

Drove into Port Townsend on Friday and took some pictures at a parking lot downtown.

Stopped by Ruth's to install the Scrabble game on her computer but either the disk was no good or her computer needs some repair 'cause I couldn't get it to work.  Something is amiss with her computer, I think, because she has all kinds of problems she shouldn't be having.  And this has been going on since the day she got the computer.  Wish she'd trade it in for another version.

I'm making three trips into PT next month for various activities but my calendar is free for the rest of February.  I'll probably so what I do and settle in at ancestry.com.  Have to go find a VHS tape now so I can record SNL that runs from 8-11:30 tonight.  Previews look pretty good.  I'll be watching two hours of Downton Abbey at 8 since I missed last Sunday's episode.

Sitting here watching golf right now. They've got Clint Eastwood sitting in the box with them and he says American Sniper will be profiled on 60 Minutes tonight.  I want to see that one. Mary said when they left the theater, everyone was solemn and quiet as they filed out. She'd read somewhere that other theaters were reporting the same reaction.