A time of sorrow...a namesake ---

While going thru stuff, I found a newspaper article copy that my late aunt sent to me [my mom's sister in law]. My mother told me I was named after her sister, Annie, but I never really got the gist of it all until now when I was sitting down and stumbling through it all. While reading this [which I must admit, I never did before...just stuffed it in my genealogy folders and let it go for decades]. It dawned on me--------this is the Annie!!! This is who I was named after. It all happened in 1911. A family tragedy!! Here is a copy of the article I'm adding to one section of my genealogy that will show some of the history, without being a direct blood line from parents/grandparents/great grandparents and further back. My mother's sister died. Burned to death. The article reads as follows [with names omitted]:

LITTLE GIRL BURNED TO DEATH

Annie, the five year old daughter of ..[omitted].., who lives two and a half miles from ..[omitted].. was burned to death last Saturday afternoon. She was playing in the corn field where her father was burning corn stalks when her dress caught fire. Before assistance could reach her the flames had reached all over her body and in spite of the frantic efforts of her father and mother who were near, her body was burned to a crisp. The little girl died before she was carried from the field and before the doctor arrived. ..[omitted].. were both badly burned about the face and hands in a desperate struggle to save their daughter. The funeral was held Saturday and the body was taken to ..[omitted].. for burial. The family has the sympathy of the entire community in their time of sorrow and bereavement.

This is dated April 1911.
My mother was born the summer of 1911 which means my grandmother was pregnant when this happened to Annie.

A dream....I have---

I'm gonna be editing bunches [I've been researching both sides of my immediate family and Bud's for nearly 25 years] of stuff today, and will be scarcely seen online today and probably tomorrow. 6:50 a.m.....I just finished scanning dozens of historical documents of my mother's side of the genealogy. Historical meaning homesteading, wills, obits, and even a muster roll of my great grandfather's New York Artillery unit and pension. He fought in the Battle of the Wilderness and was wounded during the battle. Which brings me to thinking about how our country came upon ourselves to disagree on slavery, treatment of race, etc. And yesterday ---well, yesterday.......






With the postponement of dedicating the MLK memorial caused by the tropical weather along the Atlantic coast, I'd still like to post a few thoughts. The area opened to the public this past week. When racial issues become a dominate story, I continue to cringe and become embarrassed over and over. I continue to ask why on earth do the white people feel they are supreme to anyone? The Holocaust is another issue with me. Oh, and not to mention that I read just this last week about the Cherokee Nation no longer allowing anyone with mixed blood membership of their tribe? My first thought was 'suffer the children'. Remember in your history reading about "The Trail of Tears"? I do. And being so, with their tribal constitution, the mixed native Americans are no longer being allowed to any benefits? I just don't understand. Okay, so my point of this "morsel" for Monday is racial discrimination. I was of the age when school segregation was part of our history. I so well remember a certain piece of artwork that was printed; POST® magazine shared it with the world on its cover, the Norman Rockwell painting "The Problem We All Live With". Tho, in some instances we have come a long way. But in my opinion, there is still much work to be done on the character or our people. In the oval office there is one that is hated by many only because he is of a certain race. Just for that reason. The KKK is another that is still prevalent in the South. Sad, so sad. They bleed red. They have the heart and mind as we do -- and, believe it or not, they pee and poop, just as we do!! Color or 'no color'...there is NOT a supremacy in the human race. My life has been enriched with blacks, tribal members of the nations near Tucson, Arizona, Latin Americans...even a great friend from Pakistan [she WAS Pakistani and not 'white' with so much diverse cultural lifestyle I learned a great deal by her!!] when I was in school. Her father was going to a nearby university for education to educate his people when his class schedule was complete....Pamela I. was a GOOD friend!! And I appreciated her being my friend while going to classes with her. Race, religion, and creed were never anything to my lifestyle....still isn't. But when I look at all that is a constant happening in the world, I continue to bite my tongue. Yes, as with Martin Luther King, Jr. .... I too have a dream. Equality in race. But, it's only a pipe dream because I know, being a realist, that that dream of mine and King's will never come to pass when there are so many prejudices and hate in the world. And that will continue; I fear.


[above photo borrowed from Google search, no infringement of copyright intended by my use]



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Get out a hanky or a tissue. If you view this 28 sec. video; you'll cry!! And the story that goes with it is just heart wrenching. The loyalty of a canine...and his fallen master.

Busy week....

shadowed palm frond [at the mall]


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SUNDAY'S SUMMARY

Have you ever had one of those weeks that days are just so mixed up you don't know if you're coming or going? All day last Sunday while Erik was here, it was Saturday for me...he left on Sunday [which was really Monday], and then the rest of the week just went all haywire for me. I think this is Sunday now, so I think I'm back on track until the next bout of 'half-heimerz' comes upon me. I've started a new blog for myself. Several weeks/days ago, Mari and Madi's Mom posted about having their blogs published as books. I thought this would be a good way to get our family's genealogy printed in book form. A distant relative had done one in pamphlet form years ago, like it's been over 30 years now, and I found so many errors and typos in the whole composition it was a total mess. A distant cousin---so I'm entitled to say it wasn't done well. Right? LOL I'm starting to scan more photos and certificates and whatnot to get posted on my genealogy blog...Family Reunion. [By the way, has anyone here tried to set up a new Google account for a new blog -other than the one you're using now ---seems you have to give your phone number to activate it? What's up with that?] I know this is going to be a big challenge and a long long project to get it just right. Afterall, I've had years and years of research to go through and more photos that I've collected - well, it'll more than likely take me months. Right now, I'm all gung-ho about it. And I'm on the 'easy part' right now. Getting all the images scanned and posted on the blog. The tiring, long, drug-out ordeal will be getting names, dates and families all straight to coincide with years and ancestors. Do I really want to do this? YES!! It's been in the back of my mind for decades. Finally, a dream will hopefully become a reality. I completed the wall above the entertainment center that I started last week...I added another frame with a native american, a bull's ceramic skull that Bud painted, and one of our bull nose rings from a bullfight we attended in Old Mexico. I know the hummingbird painting is kinda 'out of kilter' in theme, but it's the only place I could find to hang it for now. Done. Also, to update on our kitty bladder infection...Tahoe is doing much better, tho isn't quite up to her normal self. In time, I think she will be tho. Tho she tries to hide from me when she hears the meds bottle being shaken, I spy her! Then, it's wrestling her down and grabbing her back legs [these are the scratching legs for defense in any cat!], to pry her mouth open far enough to get into the back of her throat and 'squirt'! But, her legs get the upper 'hand' in the action...check out my knee damage in the photo insert!! And by the way, the vet telling us that the best option for drinking water was distilled water, and I went and bought some for them?----------neither one touched it!!! I went back to bottled water 'cause I was concerned they'd become terribly dehydrated and make things worse...for BOTH cats. Madi's Mom informed me of the filtered water dish that I will check out and no doubt purchase for them----I don't want to have to go through this with either cat; I hear it's nigh-on to impossible to save a male cat once they're infected with bladder problems. It'll be a safer way around. But to mention that Winston was pleased as punch to be getting the special treatment so as not to have him feel the inferior because of the extra attention Tahoe has been getting...this is what he has to say.........."As long as you let me nap like any other tom cat, and continue to leave my cool throne open and uncluttered for me during the day, you're more than welcome to entertain and pester Tahoe, just leave me the hell alone, and let me sleep the day away!! Aren't you hungry or something? Go fix yourself something to gnaw on for a while. And that flashy thing, put it away...you're disturbing my peace and quiet." [insert a little thought bubble of his here]--- My afternoons are more tranquil if you find something else to do with your time and Tahoe continues to be mopey because of the shouting match you two have each and every blessed day...trust me, you'll find me getting my 40 winks...errrr, um, catnappin' here and there.

One in every family...or so it seems

I've always had a fascination of the gene process in reproduction. When it comes to black sheep being born of two, say, suffolk breed [predominately white]. It's all in the genes string from the Ancient World of ancestry. Then, speaking of 'black sheep'...are you the black sheep of the family? It seems there is always one. In my family, it was my middle older brother. Always getting into trouble and giving our parents a hard time and no doubt the beginning of mom and dad's gray hairs. Y'know? There always seems to be on in every family-----




from free sheep photos
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WEEKEND FUNNIES






Stuck in traffic for what felt like eons, I couldn't help but notice the license plate on the car in front of me. It read BAA BAA. I was clueless as to why they chose this -- until I looked at the vehicle the plate was attached to: a black Jeep.





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There's Good News and then there's GOOD news...

First in posting today, I wanted to pass on a food tip. Or a cooking/baking tip I learned from my mother years ago. When you have a notion to bake a cake from a cake mix and the directions call for flouring a baking pan....sit aside a small amount of the dry cake mix to dust your pan instead of using white flour. This works especially well when you want to serve up an unfrosted cake to place a slice on a serving dish so your guests can pour on a pudding-like sauce. No white flour residue to contend with!!!! Try this trick on the Molten Chocolate Imported Cake Mix that was featured on Oprah. I'm linking up with a meme I'm participating in today-linked on my sidebar meme button list: FOOD TRIP FRIDAY.


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We lost power last night for a short time and lost cable for a while. I think this is news worthy....it rained here [three photos of the storm clouds below]. During a baseball game. It figures. We were watching the MLBN channel...heck if I even remember what two teams we were watching. Actually, I was more interested in the ticker tape that was scrolling near the bottom of the screen. I do know the game that was telecast was boring!! Anyway, the two most rivaled teams in the American League, Boston and NYY are the scores I'm interested in right now. Yesterday, before games began, the Red Sox were ahead by two games with the Yankees. And the scores flashed at the bottom of the screen didn't look good for my preferred team...the Yankees....Boston was winning against the Rangers [neither team I like]. In fact Boston was shutting the Rangers out in score. And then the Yankees' game---the last time I got to see the score, it was Oakland ahead of the Yankees 7-1. Bah humbug!! Another losing game for Jeter and his team. Then.....the cable went out for a few hours. By the time the cable came back on, I was into my crocheting, and Bud was reading his book, so we didn't even turn the TV back on. Now the one section of good news is....WE GOT a NICE SATURATING RAIN move in over the city!!! I can almost hear the grass turning back to green. lol

The second part of this all is that this morning I plugged in the computer again to begin working on my project with the scanner---I checked the MLB Scoreboard------------YANKEES WON!!! And believe it or not, the Yankees made history again. In all of baseball history...let me repeat this: IN ALL OF BASEBALL HISTORY, no team has ever had THREE GRAND SLAMS in one game. Yankees, yesterday, did!! And of course, they ended up winning the game. 22-7


[courtesy of MLB Scoreboard]


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Oh, and back to the rain. This is the first rainfall this area of Texas has had since, ummmmm, let's see....I believe it was either the end of February or beginning of March! Nearly 6 months ago. The upper level high pressure area that has been dominating the entire state of Texas this summer moved west just enough to break the cycle and bring in an upper level disturbance into the coastal bend!! Yay. Forecasts, tho, show blistering heat returning today and no rain in sight for some days ahead. The severe drought isn't over of course, but every little bit of moisture will help out.


[three photos taken about 4pm with the brewing cloud cover]

Ageless and Evergreen....

Love soft as an easy chair
Love fresh as the morning air


One love that is shared by two
I have found with you

Like a rose under the April snow


I was always certain love would grow
Love ageless and evergreen
Seldom seen by two

You and I will make each night a first
Every day a beginning


Spirits rise and their dance is unrehearsed
They warm and excite us, 'cause we have the brightest love

Two lives that shine as one
Morning glory and midnight sun
Time we've learned to sail above


Time won't change the meaning of one love
Ageless and ever... evergreen.




Song video link: HERE

Photo credits: Gulf Sunrise, Rose after ice storm [ice is the closest thing to 'snow' as we get here in TX.], sunrise, spoonbills in flight.

A meme where you match the lyrics[words] to photos! Challenging and fun.
THURSDAY MEME PARTICIPATION BUTTON LINK on my sidebar

a rerun....

Busy day for me on a new project which I hope I'll explain a bit on my Sunday's summary. For today's post I'm going to repost a blog entry I posted in January of last year. Probably some of you'll remember it, but honestly I have very little time online.......




At Aransas Wildlife Refuge along the coast of Texas, about 80 miles northeast of Corpus Christi, we had a good outing, bird watching, and other activities in more ways than one. [the first 15 photos have mouseover captions] We crossed Copano Bay near Rockport Texas [which is kinda like crossing to Key West Florida...only MUCH shorter in distance. Water on both sides of the highway! We continued heading in the north easterly direction to the refuge. I was in hopes of being able to view the Whooping Cranes that migrate here to the coast each and every winter, like clock work. This year, there are a reported 240+ cranes that have arrived. The Refuge is their breeding grounds. Once we arrived, we signed in and walked around the visitor's center that has many displays of the birds in the area...[world renowned for bird watchers]...and the four footed wildlife that co-exists with area's waterfowl. After the few minutes registering and viewing the indoor exhibits, it was time to hop in the car and drive the 16 miles of roadway meandering through the swampy marshlands [the whole sanctuary/park/refuge is vast....some 115,000 acres of land area, not including the expanse of water inlets and shoreline and gulf bays --most only accessible by chartered boat] in hopes of realizing our purpose of the day trip.....









"Alligators in the sewer"....she was such a doll back then. Drew Barrymore that is. I adored her as a child, I admire her spunk and fortitude now that she's grown. Not to mention I think she's the best looking Barrymore ever. Oh yes, I remember her grandfather, John, and her uncle, Lionel. Among others of the Barrymore dynasty. With her 'breakthrough' role in E. T. as Gertie, in 1981!!!....her little bod and adorable charm of a youngster, well, she melted my heart. And I still catch myself saying -alligators in the sewer- oftentimes. In fact just the other day!!!

You see, we walked miles. We drove through the entire area where you can park your car at certain observation points. And climbed the tower...but to no avail. We did however see many other birds and some beautiful countryside. Spoonbills, hawks, egrets, herons. Why, even a ROBIN!! Which, in all honesty, I've NOT SEEN since Colorado! I always knew that Spring had arrived when the first robin of the season sang its lullaby. It was a real treat to see one again. And I must say, the one we saw in Texas IS bigger....the saying is true....things in Texas are big! hehehehe All in all it was a very pleasant day. We spent about four hours there once we arrived. As we were driving back to the visitor's center to sign out [you have to register when you enter the reserve]. As we drove the paved road through the park, ummmmmmm.......Watch out!! Alligators' on the loose!!!!!

By the time I got the car pulled off the road he had reached the swamp!!




...and he had his eyes on me too. All the time I was there with the camera!! If he had turned and chased me....he'd still be slipping in my----!!!

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Foghorns, gulls, and peaceful scenery...

Do the words :as dry as a popcorn fart: seem adequate? ...we still have plenty of water. Not FRESH water, but lots of salt water!! By the way, I read in our local newspaper, an article, that a couple of towns in West Texas may be ghost towns soon if no rains fall------their fresh water is drying up. The lakes they depend on are turning to muddy bogs. Our reservoir stands at 63% capacity right now...that's not good. At 50% we begin water restrictions.






Picstory's challenge for the week is: topic *Water*! And Ruby Tuesday shows a bit of 'red' on the shrimp boat "Green Light".

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Sailboat and Tanker - North Shore Bay in Corpus Christi, shrimp boat at marina pier.

The coolness of purple hues...

[purple trumpet blossom of "Kings Mantel"]



MEME PARTICIPATION BUTTONS linked on sidebar marquee This is a pre-scheduled post 'cause today, again, I won't be online with Erik here, visiting.

Home sweet Home

I thought I'd combine Saturday's and Sunday's meme since it's "critter" and "shadowshot" all rolled into one photo. I used a King's Ranch photo of a longhorn and played around with it on Paintshop, using a brush stroke preset...this is the result----





Erik will be here on Sunday and not leave 'til late Monday, so I won't be on the computer much [My Monday post is prescheduled].......


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SUNDAY'S SUMMARY [posted with Saturday time frame]


One day this past week, I spent the morning tearing apart and cleaning three frames to add to the wall above the entertainment center. We had the painting of the Texas Longhorns by a local artist in the center of the wall [which I posted about Bud buying the print at the fairgrounds last year...HERE], and then to its right, my water color painting of the hummingbird. For weeks, I've been thinking of how to balance the rest of the left side. So, digging through the attic for frames, I found two smaller ones and a medium matted frame. The matted was empty, but needed a good cleaning. While the other small frames had stuff in it, it just didn't go with the flow of the room. Bud found one of his old [early] 1900's indian head copper pennies and mounted that on white felt and I then put it in the gold frame. The plain wooden frame, I added an antique Frederick Remington post card. In the larger, matted frame, I placed one of my pencil sketches of a Texas Longhorn...the date under my signature said "1984". Whoa. The quality of the photos are not all that great since I took it with my cellphone and no flash. I have one old wooden oval frame with the beveled glass that I will find something and add it to the wall to complete the space. I was craving a guacamole burger and Bud decided to fire up the grill and cook a couple of turkey burgers for us. I made the guacamole from a fresh avocado and picante sauce. I would have preferred wheat buns [I like the sweeter flavor], but all I had was white...but we had these delicious goodies a couple of nights this week. I piled on all the fixin's and when Bud saw them as he brought in the burgers from outside---"Where's the BEEF". On the bun I had grated cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, diced fresh tomatoes, sliced onion rings, jalapeno peppers, more picante sauce, and guacamole. Yum. I guess the fats in avocado are good for you? At least SOMETHING in the meal was healthy. There are times I go off my 'trying to eat more foods that are good for me'....it's something I do. And, I've found over the course of heart healthy diet that once in a while I just cannot give up the REAL cheese!! A tropical wave has been brewing in the Caribbean this past week, but way too far south to bring us some much needed rain. The high pressure area still dominates Texas tho. A couple more disturbances are out just off the African Cape Verde Coast...heading toward USA---maybe the 2nd one coming in [will be named Irene, of all names, if it turns into a tropical storm] just might get into the Gulf. I don't want any damaging storms, just a tropical wave with much needed relief. I had made a veterinarian appointment for our pretty kitty....Tahoe. She has been having troubles making water [if you get my drift - now that I think on it, she too is in a drought...lol] for the last couple of days. All kidding aside, while being examined, she had an empty bladder, a perfect body temperature, and her weight [surprisingly] is normal. Here I've always thought she was overweight...but nope. Anyway, she had two shots for pain and discomfort. And we have to administer antibiotics for 14 days...just once a day. Thank goodness. If she isn't improved from the vaccines and oral meds, by Monday, we have to take her in for an overnight stay so they can take blood and urine samples for lab work. Other than her difficulties in the litter box, she is quite normal...eating, playing and alert. The vet is thinking on the lines of FLUTD [feline lower urinary tract disease] which forms crystals in the bladder and blocks the normal flow....Keep my little pretty kitty in your hearts she'll improve over the weekend! Also...if you have small animals, the vet informed me that most often it's brought on by highly mineralized water from tap or bottled water----to use DISTILLED WATER only. Of course, after I brought her home, I got back in the car and stopped at the store and stocked up on distilled water. Anything for my best four legged friends.

"The King[s] of the Night"

This is the 'book cover' from the week's posted photo. Upon viewing this, the challenge for this meme is to write a blurb [the inside cover flap] that will entice the reader to drop down their VISA on the counter and purchase the book and enjoying it. It's to be either fiction or non-fiction. For all the rules, just click the linked image on my sidebar; then, participate!!

Here goes---






book title:
*:*:MIDNIGHT MONARCH:*:*:
[an unauthorized biography]

Laughing and applauding as she listened, Johnny loved being a comic; his mom was his best audience. Walking by the window, looking out to the snow-covered, frigid landscape, secretly Johnny moaned "I've got to get away from this godforsaken country!" Turning to face his mother at the kitchen table Johnny blurted: "Mom, I'm leaving when I have enough saved up. It's like living at a dead end street here." Reaching in the back of the cupboard, bringing out her secret savings, Ruth handed it to her son giving him her blessings. Aboard a Greyhound, California bound, he befriended another; camaraderie grew over the miles . The days-long journey ended at 12:01a.m. His friend exited the bus as Johnny began his departure. Ed shouted with Johnny's last footfall... "Hollywood? Her-r-r-r-e's Johnny"!!! In the darkened early morning hour, the world had a rising star, the Monarch of Midnight.

[147 - Word Count Tool]


Book Cover designed by Anni...
In its entirety, plus text,
[with the exception of photo and/or credits]
is copyrighted by law.
see copyright on sidebar
© 2011

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FRIDAY FODDER

Okay, I'm all for equal rights of both genders. But, I've often wondered just how many out there of us lady bloggers feel that we are being 'SHORT' changed when it comes to advertisements. Everywhere you look these days, there are scantly-dressed ladies...in store windows, in magazines, on billboards, in movies, and even down to the 'in home' versions....commercials!! Take for instance, Victoria's Secret. You're relaxing for the evening, and enjoying a good movie when up comes a commercial for ladies' underwear. All the women parade around 'in their comfort zone'......in less than skimpy, revealing, underwear. And what we women get for opposite gender advertisements are those dumpy dudes dressed up in ill fitting fruit costumes...stretching the collars of a T-shirt or the elastic waistbands? I mean, really....come on!! I propose that we all should unite and demand that Victoria's Secret open a new chain of stores and advertise profusely!!! VICTOR'S SECRET!!!! Come on, let's hear it for the boys!!! Honestly, I can see Lifetime picking up commercial time for these products, can't you. More than likely they'd keep some of us women pleased about commercials now and then. Who needs a snack run between commercials when you have equal-time eye candy like this?!! There, I've stated my thoughts on this, now it's your turn to speak up.....
{insert catcalls and whistles from me}


Three photos borrowed from Google search for Underwear for Men...no, I didn't go to any porn sites...lordy!!

Hotter 'an a Match Head....

Hot town, summer in the city


Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty
Been down, isn't it a pity
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city


All around, people looking half dead


Walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head


But at night it's a different world


Go out and find a girl
Come-on come-on and dance all night
Despite the heat it'll be alright

And babe, don't you know it's a pity
That the days can't be like the nights
In the summer, in the city


In the summer, in the city

Cool town, evening in the city
Dressing so fine and looking so pretty
Cool cat, looking for a kitty


Gonna look in every corner of the city
Till I'm wheezing like a bus stop


Running up the stairs, gonna meet you on the rooftop




PHOTO CREDITS: Just around the city...1] along shoreline drive, downtown 2] as the sun rises, the moon sets -notice the moon? 3] "half dead" > no, but lounging in the sun on the seawall steps 4] Joggers & "Match head" 5] "Night" light 6] Summer in the City...looking west with the hot sun shining on our backsides 7] "Cool Cat" -Winston 8] City bus nearing a bus stop 9] Begun in Corpus Christi Texas, the fast food restaurant, "Whataburger" ---this one is the ONLY one throughout the nation with a rooftop dining area overlooking the Bay.


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SONG LINK: here