Six Years Ago

I reflected on today's date this morning. A lot has changed since 2009 but a lot has stayed the same too.  The biggest change, of course, is that my dad is gone.  When you spend your time delving into genealogy records, death dates become something you're always aware of.  I even have a file documenting those deaths of close relatives......

deaths:

1938: Viola Mae dies Jan 24, Darrel Walker dies Jul 3

1960:  L.G. Blankenship  Sep 14

1969:  Joan Arey Dubberly  Oct 10

1976:  Bob Walker  Jun  6

1982:  Velna Walker Sep 6

1989:  Arthur Blankenship Jun 21 & Lyall Arey Apr 4

1994:  George Blankenship Apr 18 & Elva Arey May 29

1999:  Lillian Blankenship  Dec 6

2005:  Claude Walker Apr 11

2008:  Jim Blankenship  Mar 11 & Marcella Blankenship Nov 15

2009:  John Blankenship Apr 30

2011:  Lorraine Blankenship Apr 10

I wasn't born yet when my grandma, Mae Blankenship died and she's one person I wish I could have known. Same with Darrel Walker who was married to my aunt Velna.

The funeral in 1960 for my grandpa, Lew Gene, was my first. I'll always remember that experience. Some relatives didn't have services but the family held get-togethers later to celebrate their life. These included Uncle Arthur, Uncle Jim, and cousin Claude.

I don't recall attending a service for my cousin, Joan, but she died in Florida and I remember my aunt and uncle flying down there.  I missed my step-mom's funeral because I came down with a horrible flu.  I think it was brought on by stress as I was trying to handle all the funeral details.  I also missed my aunt Lorraine's funeral because Hunter was sick and I needed to stay home with him.  I've always regretted that I missed those two services. My mother is 89 and except for dementia, seems to be in halfway decent good health.  Her biological father lived to be 95 so I suppose she might have several years left.  It's doubtful I'll attend her funeral, however.  I last visited her 12 years ago in Pennsylvania and traveling isn't really my cup of tea anymore.

I miss my deceased relatives.  Perhaps that's why I try to stay connected (so to speak) by looking into the lives of all those family members gone before me.  I signed up for a month subscription to newspapers.com yesterday.  I discovered later that they don't actually have as many newspapers as I thought.  I should have paid more attention.  But they have enough to keep me occupied.  Would have loved to have access to old PT papers but they don't have anything online and don't intend to as it's too much work.  Port Angeles has issues, though, and I'll be looking those over just for fun. I did find this building permit my dad took out in 1966 when he wanted to add on to the Kuhn St. house.

I also found four different write-ups on my g. uncle Arthur Steele, married to Grandpa's sister, Mattie. I printed all of them out as they each have a little bit of info on him that the others don't.

Another interesting thing I found was on a guy who was pictured in my aunt Velna's yearbook (3rd row, 3rd one over -Velna is on the right although they've listed her as Velma). This is the 1923-24 yearbook for Centralia High School. Velna would have graduated in 1925.  Anyhow, she's listed as Velma Blankenship and next to her is this guy named Alden Blankenship.  I always thought it strange that two Blankenship families lived in the same town but weren't related.  I discovered a write-up on Alden and found it interesting.

(click on to enlarge)

Velna was written up on another yearbook page honoring her as the artist of the school emblem.

And she was a dandy artist too! I know we had various artists in the family. My grandpa's sister, Ettie Patton who lived in Pendleton had two sons. The oldest, Waible, had this written about him in his obit:  

He made the first cuts for pictures when they started using local pictures in the East Oregonian. He was a commercial photographer and also worked for the East Oregonian for many years in advertising.

Grandpa's sister, Lizzie Thomason, was a writer and often had her poems published in the newspaper.

Grandpa's brother, John, had a daughter named Hallie whose obit listed her as an artist. Another obit on her said she worked for the Boardman Printing Co in San Francisco.  I seem to recall my Aunt Velna telling me once that Hallie worked for Family Circle Magazine.

Of my aunts and uncles that I knew, I think Velna and Uncle George had the most artistic talent in the family.  And the trait was passed on in George's kids as all four of them have talent artistically in one form or another.

Well, I'm off to the PA public library now. My friend, Mary, is hoping I can find something on microfilm from a 1966 Leader.  Mary and Jake are coming tomorrow so I've got to walk through the house and put up everything that a 16-month-old might find too tempting.

One thing I hope to get accomplished today is to fix a caster on my "piece-of-junk" desk that I bought in the 60's at a yard sale in Belllingham. I use the desk a lot but it certainly has seen better days and one wheel continually falls off every time I move it. (which I do a LOT!)

Washed a load of laundry this morning and heard a whole lot of commotion coming from the laundry room.  Stupid washer decided to go for a walk. That's the first time ever that it's done that. Probably needs to be balanced but I don't know how to do  that.

Oh, and here's some pictures I found of the Egg & I house  and barn where Betty McDonald lived in Chimacum in the 30's.

 And this one below is the old Westergaard house on West Valley Road.  Not sure of the date but I'm thinking the 40's perhaps.

I had fun today

I suppose I should feel guilty that I've spent the entire day online (again!) but oh well....too bad!  I really had fun today.  I just wasn't finding the kind of stuff I wanted from ancestry.com so I decided to bite the bullet and buy a subscription to newspapers.com.

Oh my!  It's $80 a year but I'm pretty sure I can pay $8 a month instead.  Also, my first week is free and if I cancel by May 5, I don't have to pay anything.  We'll see....  I wasn't sure what to expect but I'm glad I decided to do it.  I've been typing in various relatives and various towns, and various phrases, and various dates and it's just my cup of tea.

I found a little write-up on my relatives getting together for a picnic. Granted it isn't mind blowing but it's the type of thing that keeps me amused.

I also found two obits....

I'm still looking for a couple of obits I want but I'm hopeful I'll hit on them sooner or later. I found this article on a restaurant opening up in Salem in 1935.

My grandpa's oldest sister, Georgie, was married to Jake Stark and they had hotels and restaurants. Apparently, one of the cooks took them to court saying he didn't get paid overtime. I think Jake had already died and Georgie had sold the business to her son.

Never could find who won but I'll look again another day.  I searched for myself but didn't find anything. I guess that's a good thing.  I'm still hunting for relatives that wore a badge. A cousin in Goldendale wrote me:

There was a Robert Edward Steele that was born on July 12, 1907 in Suver, Oregon, and died on May 30, 1989. He was an Oregon State Police Game Officer in the McKenzie River area. Remember my dad talking about him, and he thought highly of him. He was quite high in the state standing I was told. There has been a lot of officers over the generations. Ray Steele was the sheriff of Polk county until he retired, he would have been a nephew, and his son, Todd Steele, was also an officer with the state police. 

I found a note in the Oregon archives that my g. grandfather was an assessor and sheriff for a time in Illinois. I'm still trying to find that information.

Posted school pics of the grandkids on FB today so guess I'll put them on here too. Wish I was that photogenic.

I moved my "take a nap" recliner to another spot in the living room this morning and plan (I hope I can stick to it) to only use it for naps.  I've noticed the recliner just hasn't been comfortable for my back so I brought in a sensible chair to sit on while watching tv and doing cross stitch.  It's comfortable enough I guess but I may need to invest in another chair at some point.  Maybe an easy chair that doesn't recline but is comfy to sit in and has a straight back.  I'm going to throw a blanket on this one and see if it helps any.

I took the foam off my mattress yesterday and I did wake up feeling better this morning. At least as far as low back pain goes.  I sure do like sleeping on that foam, though, so I'll see if I definitely notice a long term improvement.

Weather has been weird today  Sunny then horribly gray and windy like a huge storm was gonna hit. Now it's kinda of windy but the sun is shining.  I should go for a walk but I'm not going to. I will go ride my exercise bike, though.  My r. knee has been up to something the past few days and it's making me mighty nervous.  I definitely do NOT want another knee replacement.

If the shooting pains, locking up, and buckling continue, I'll have to break down and see the orthopedic guy in Sequim.  My hope is that if the cartilage is wearing down (like it did in 1999 and 2000) maybe I can get by with arthroscope surgery.  I guess 15 years was a good run; especially when they told me it would probably only last me 10 years, if that.

First things first, though. Gotta work harder at dropping the weight.  If I can fix it that way instead of surgery, I'll be a happy camper.  Nothing like having your mobility challenged to put you in a funk! I even got my dad's cane out yesterday to give me a little more confidence walking around the house. I haven't noticed any pattern to the pain attacks. They come out of the blue when I'm just walking across the room OR.... if I'm sitting in my recliner or laying in bed.  Not good.  Aging totally sucks!

And on a happy note, here's a picture my cousin, Marlee, sent me of her tulips in Gig Harbor.  I'm totally jealous. Mine didn't do well this year.  Partly, I suppose because I dug them up and then forgot where I put the bulbs.  What an idiot!  They probably turned moldy and I threw them out.  I don't deserve pretty flowers.  Ha!

I'm tired. Must have had fun today

Left the house around 11 to pick up Joyce Adams and head to the research center on the Airport Cut-off Road.  Quite a few were there to tour the building.  I had Joyce take a picture of me standing in front of it but I deleted it because that damn camera screwed up again and made me look like a fat cow!

Here's some of the shots I took inside....

                                                              lots of old trunks

                                                             lots of old office desks

                                               desks, bassinets, rocking chair

                                                       old wheel chair

                                                I sat in a desk like this at one time

                                                Baby buggy of old (so cool!)

This made me want to get back to my sewing room. Applique quilts are my favorite.

 They had lots of pictures but not on display, unfortunately. This one I've seen before but I can't remember where. It's a PT street scene painted by Elaine Ondracek.

                                                 A stuffed bird collection

                                                                         Old tools

                                                           An old washing machine

                                                                   another old washer

Joyce and I left and headed back to the casino for lunch. We both had burgers and they were tasty.
Saw Lee & Elaine Arey and their daughter, Michelle. Also saw Nancy Mosher and Whitey Harvey.
Whitey asked me (in a loud voice)....Oh my God!  Are you still alive?!   ha ha ha

I lost my first $20 fairly quickly but got to play for over an hour on my second $20.  Finally cashed out with $20  and I went home with half of what I came with. That's okay.

It was almost 4 by the time we headed to the car. Both of us were tired. We gossiped all the way home and I drove into the garage eager to get my jammies on and crash in my recliner.  Taped three hours of golf so I have that to entertain myself with tomorrow. Gonna watch 'Call the Midwife' and head to bed by 9.

I cleaned up a few computer files before I left this morning so tomorrow I'm probably going to get back to researching on the Downs family of Delaware.  Don't know what else I can find but so far, the answers I seek have been elusive. I may have to drive over to the Morman church this week and see if they can help me break down that brick wall.

Tomorrow I'm going to hang some thistle seed to attract goldfinches.  I think I saw one today and they're my favorite bird to feed. Plus the deer can't get into their feeders because of the way they're made.  Also need to put out some fresh nectar for the hummingbirds. They go through that stuff pretty fast.

Here's a picture I posted on Facebook this morning as it's Mary and Andy's 7th wedding anniversary and her friend, Jenny Erickson's 48th birthday.

And here's one I got in an email today.  I think.  Maybe I saw it on FB. I forget. Anyhow, I thought it was really cool for being a CAKE! Some people are just plain talented.

Friday - time to unwind

I've been a busy little bee this morning. Washed a load of laundry, vacuumed, mopped the kitchen, went to Walmart, and even managed to make myself presentable.  I did invest in some hair gel and spray since I've  decided (until I change my mind again) that I'm going to let my hair grow and see if I can't work a little harder at keeping it curled.

Yesterday I scrolled through my blogs of the past few years and was reminded of how thinner I was, how my yard and bushes and flowers looked better, how much I rearranged rooms and added "things", and how often I posted pictures of plants and birds and bugs and dirt.  Ha!  I did find a few pictures I wanted to keep (maybe for reprints... or not) and I noticed quite a few posts where the pictures had been deleted.  I suspect I did that because Google said I was running out of space and wanted to charge me.  I just can't see paying for pictures I've posted of my yard.

I did notice that the block long lot across the street from me used to be free of scotch broom and bushes.  I also remembered how the lot at the end of the street looked before it was logged.  I was happy to see those trees disappear because it was kind of scary to walk along the secluded path in there.  You never knew what riff raff you were going to encounter.  There was a lean-to "camp" in the middle of it until somebody burned it down.  And the whole area over there and the road leading to it has become a dumping ground for people's trash and old furniture and carpets.

I'm fairly certain druggies meet up there, as well.  Anyhow, while I was happy to see the area opened up, I am not happy that the logger hasn't returned to clean up the area like the construction guys informed me.  They left large ugly tree stumps and it's only a matter of time before the whole area is full of scotch broom and bushes again.  I decided I'd look into whether or not anybody is responsible for coming in to rape the land for profit and leave it ugly.

A friend on FB suggested I write my representative so I did. Ha!  Like he's going to lose any sleep over that one!  It was my first letter (that I recall anyway) that I've ever written a politician. This morning I called city hall and left a message. Waiting to hear back.   I may write a letter to the editor next.  And perhaps a rant in their rave and rant column.  It just doesn't seem right  that people can come in and leave an eyesore like that. Somebody needs to say something.

I made a pot of clam chowder for supper yesterday so that will be the menu again today.  Don't know why it is, but it just doesn't taste as good as clam chowder in a restaurant. I probably should have seasoned it more but I'm trying to cut down on salt.

I bought a piece of foam board this morning to mount my jungle puzzle on.  I glued it yesterday after watching a video on YouTube of how to do it. So easy.  I may do more.  I've been a little bummed that I don't have the energy or strength to do a lot of chores that I used to find kind of fun.  Even pulling the large trash bins to the alley is a chore anymore.  I'd like to get a ton of flowers planted but it's just not going to happen. I'll be content with the few I have on the deck. I did invest in one hanging basket for the front porch. I think it's high enough that the deer can't eat it.

We had some high winds the other day. I do enjoy a good wind storm (as long as it doesn't interfere with my electricity). As I sat in my recliner, I watched my little pinwheel spin faster and faster. And then I noticed it was not looking right.  I went out to inspect it and discovered some of the ribbons have ripped away.  Darn it anyhow!  I paid about $15 for that yard decoration and I expected it to last for several years. Jenni says I expect too much and it's already had a good run.  I don't agree. Things should last longer.

Nothing much on my agenda this week. Mary and Jake (maybe Andy) are coming next Saturday to stay the night. Can't make it on Mothers Day as they were given Mariners tickets. She just returned from Austin last night and in May, they'll travel to NY to see his family.  They're going to fall in love with Jake all over again!

He's grown so much...

Well, let's see...what else...?    Maddie is busy with track and working at getting the pole higher and higher on pole vaulting.  Hunter continues to work on his truck in the garage and helps out a lot at his grandpa Ed's since his Alzheimer's takes a toll.  Catie is busy working on making jewelry and hunting for a new job.

I'm plowing along the best I can with two body replacement parts.  I was ready to go home by the time I finished walking Walmart's aisles from one end to the other. I can see the day coming when I'll opt for a riding cart.  Not there yet and I'm hoping it won't come to that but if it does, it does.

Here's that video on how to glue a jigsaw puzzle....

I do enjoy Spring time

Yesterday (like several folks I'm sure) I spent some time outside playing in the dirt.  It isn't easy for me to play in the dirt these days.  My back often has plans of her own.  I put in two hours and that's kinda pushing it even though I have my handy dandy shower stool to sit on for the "get down-get those weeds pulled" chapter of the chores.

Maddie came over and did the area under the front window for me and helped me move some pots in the back, and dump some weeds in the lot across the street.  I planted a few flowers in planter boxes on the back deck and today I put some green bean seeds in the raised beds at the end of the yard. Also a package of blue morning glorys.  My "already blooming" flowers included my ole standby - pansies, some marigolds, and two others that I can't think of their name so who cares.

                                                                   before and after

Since the backyard is full of moss and dandelions and generally looks dreadful except right after Hunter has mowed, I've decided that the one area that is especially ugly and doesn't grow that well will be my "solar light area."  I had quite a few to stake out and now I'm eagerly awaiting to see if they're still good. I may even invest in a couple more.  I won't bother with mowing that area either.

My body sure did let me know she wasn't happy with the tiny bit of exercise I made her participate in. I went to bed tired to the bone and achy all over. But.....happy at the same time.  Planting and weeding can be such a mood elevator.

I've been in a cross stitch mood (when I'm not crocheting my latest afghan) and here are the patterns I recently finished.  I may use them in the middle of a quilt piece or maybe make a book mark.

I started a new book last night and thankfully, was hooked from page 1.  Looking forward to picking it up later today.  (Foxcatcher)

I made the yummiest dinner last night. Veggie pizza. I bought two ready made pizza crusts and topped one of them with chicken, broccoli, carrots, onions, green pepper, zucchini, tomatoes, and cheese.  I'll have the other half tonight although I'm hungry now and might just have it for lunch.

Household chores were light this morning so I finished everything up quickly. Now I can PLAY!
Going to find another jigsaw to set up and will probably work on genealogy.  I got my obit on Zadock Blankenship, my grandpa's older brother that I had so little data on.  According to the obit, (which aren't always accurate) his name was Zedic.

From Capital Journal, Dec. 2, 1932

Obituary: Zedic C. Blankenship

Independence, OR

Funeral services for Zedic Clarke Blankenship were held from the Keeney Funeral Home, Independence, Dec. 1 at 10:30 o’clock with Rev. Geo Cromley of Salem officiating. Funeral hymns were sung by Mrs. Walter Keer and Mrs. E. Gobat of Suver. Pall bearers were Walter J. Kerr, Martin Conger, Henry Lamb, Ora Allen, Willis Allen and Egr Harris. Interment was in the IOOF Cemetery. Mr. Blankenship passed away at the home of his sister, Mrs. Steele of Suver November 29. He is survived by the following brothers and sisters: John A. Blankenship, Creswell, J.S. Blankenship, Klamath Falls, L.G. Blankenship of Port Townsend, Wash., sisters Mrs. Patton, Pendleton, Mrs. G.A. Stark, Eugene and Mrs. A. T. Steele of Suver.

Interesting to me that no brother named "Charlie" is listed.  The mystery continues.  Chas. was listed as a son in the obit for Zedic's dad, Lewis M. Blankenship.  It was curious to me how he came to have such an old fashioned name like Zedic or Zadock or Zed and a more modern middle name like Clarke.  His grandfather was Zadock, however, so I figure that's how that came to be.  Clarke I'm not so sure of although I've thought that Zedic's mom (Jane Downs) came to Illinois with the Clark family after her dad died.  All speculation so far.

I've had a hard time finding out what the middle names were of grandpa's siblings.  His name was Lew Gene and he's listed all kinds of different ways in the census records -- L.G., Lewgene, Eugene, Louis, Lew.  His brother John's middle name was Allan and his brother, James' middle name was Summer. Also a name I thought was odd because he wasn't even born in the summer.

The oldest sister, Georgie Stark, was actually Georgia Anna. Another sister, Henrietta Patton, I can't find even an initial for so maybe she didn't get a middle name.  Another sister, Mattie Steele, has her death certificate  listed as Mattie and she's listed that way in most census records.  One place, however, she's listed as Martha M.

His sister, Elizabeth Thomason, is listed as E.C., or Lizzie but no where can I find what C stands for.
I'd really like to find out what my g. grandmother's middle name was.  Jane M. Downs.  I half suspect it might be Martha is that is the name of Mattie Steele.  But it could be Mary, as well.  One guy has her listed as Mary Jane Downs on his family tree but I don't know how he came up with that idea. Since I don't know who her mom was, it could be Mary.

Well, I guess I'll go fix lunch and watch the Country Music Awards that I taped last night. They're 3-1/2 hours long so that tells me there's plenty of commercials to FF through.  Mary flew to Austin this morning for a business conference. She was really bumming about having to leave Jake. Here he is at a recent Saturday outing they took him to.