Slowly making progress

2011 is getting off to a slow start. I am just plain tired. Why, you ask? There are a number of contributing factors. Some have to do with activity levels that I can control. Some to climate and temperature levels (inside as well as out) that I can't control. Then there are so many interruptions that I can't seem to really concentrate on what I need to accomplish.

Yes, I am being vague. I could blame the fact that I don't sleep well due to being too warm (my husband suffers from poor circulation). To house dust that affects my sinus (totally my fault). to rain and icy conditions that make it unsafe for me to take my "normal" 30 minute walk this time of year. To scheduled medical appointments and other weekly commitments that interrupt my day. But I will be able to move forward soon.

One more week of physical therapy will free up 2 days a week. Holiday stuff is down and most of it put away. I am cleaning a section of the house every day and cooking enough at a time that there is enough prepared to last at least 2 or 3 days. Income tax computations are complete with one small exception that I must wait on. No, I am not just sitting on my rear doing sudoku, even if it might sound appealing. However, I do spend several hours each day in the living room with Richard. This is a priority - spending time together. The work will get done. It just takes forever to do it at my snails pace.

easy to lose time

It is so easy to get lost in the process of research. One thing leads to another and before you know it, hours have passed. Focus on details makes all else just fade into the background.

Over the past couple weeks I have been following the trail of a couple ancestors. One of my cousins back in Kansas has been sending me copies of his research for several, actually more like 20, years. So after getting set for Christmas, I started looking at his information. Long story short, I found some discrepancies, new information, and some family lines that are off the wall.

One line thought to connect us directly to Presidents John and John Quincy Adams turns out to be false. Oh we share DNA through John Adam's great grandfather, but not through the presidents themselves.

This finding lead me to discover that John Adams great grandfather had married a widow following the death of his first wife. We are directly descended from the second wife who's family line leads directly to John Alden and Priscilla Mullins of "Mayflower" fame.

Still further research found me going into the LDS ancestral files only to trace still other family lines through an illegitimate son to British and European nobility, early (600 AD) Welsh ancestors and still another to ancient nordic kings (200 AD). All this takes a bit to digest.

I plan on taking small segments of "family" history at a time, putting it together with photos and stories, where available, and giving a copy to each of my off spring. It should be good for several years worth of Christmas presents. Some of the grandchildren have asked for information on family history in the past. Now they can get it from their folks and add to it from their own additional branches.

This will be quite the undertaking. Each branch needs to be verified. I don't really need another huge project right now. I am still far from wrapping up all the sorting of boxes in the basement. So I will work on genealogy as a diversion from that priority task only, at least for awhile. Life has challenges. Some are external and some self-imposed. This falls into the latter category, so I can pick it up or put it down as I see fit. It should be fun, not a burden.

Happy New Year everyone.

Family fun

After a quiet Christmas, after a good night sleep, and after a leisurely morning, we shared a family meal with Rick, Amy and Preston.

Kids will always be kids. Kids will always find a way to express themselves. Kids will be creative. Kids will always play with their food.

No, not 11 year old Preston, but his dad. Before downing a full meal, the artist in Rick just couldn't help itself. It also made for a light hearted meal and set the mood for many laughs.

Richard was blessed this Christmas by all our children. There seemed to be a general theme in the gifts each of them presented. He received colored pens, sketch and drawing paper, cartoon books of several kinds and even a collection of cartoon pages from the Sunday papers. All most welcome and appreciated. Supplies that will stimulate his imagination and allow him to create his own cartoons for many months to come.

We also received many intimate gifts related to family, beauty and comfort. Thank you Lord for all the love and caring that fills our hearts with joy and warms the soul. Thank you for family.

Fun with Family

Amy M with their two babies.

Grandpa is getting tired. Bridget's three young ones are good kids, but very active.

Brigdet loves dogs and they love her too.

Rick and Juergen are looking at something.

Hanna bought a new hat with part of her prize money. She took 1st place in an essay contest. It was a good essay and well presented too. Congratulations Hannah.

Alki Beach in West Seattle

Juergen with space needle in background.

Alki Beach looking across Eliot Bay toward Seattle.

Seattle ferry as seen from Alki Beach.

Downtown Seattle across bay.

Sako Field from across Eliot Bay.

On the ferry

View from the Fontlaroy shore south of the vacation house.

Area of the vacation house as viewed from the water.

Juergen on deck of ferry headed to Vashon Island.

Wheel house of ferry.

Boarding the ferry.

Seattle retreat

Logs for the fire. A cozy wooded setting overlooking Puget Sound.

The landlord lives on the upper story.

The view from the bank of windows in the living room.

We spent time with family in the spacious dining area. We indulged on steak, baked potato, green salad, and apple pie.

The cabin-like setting was very relaxing. Next post, on the ferry.