In Memory of Those Who Gave All

In my family tree we have quite a few veterans. Probably even some I have not confirmed as having served. The veterans outnumber the fallen, but on this Memorial Day, when we honor the fallen, I would like to mention a couple from my mothers branch of the family tree who did make the ultimate sacrifice during war.

Although he is listed in the letter above as Paul Gilbert, his name was really Paul Davis. After GGrandma Ada Samis Gilbert died, GGrampa Roy married her sister Delia whose husband had died. Her son Paul enlisted as Gilbert instead of Davis, honoring GGrampa but also causing me great difficulty finding military information on him. As you can read, he died during World War II, on October 18, 1944 in Lorraine, France. He has a grave marker with his brother and parents in Michigan. I believe his body was returned after the war and is indeed buried there. I don't know if he was a part of D Day. But I do remember watching a movie about the landing, or perhaps a documentary. My mother mentioned something about wondering if cousin Paul was there. Either way, he was in the thick of battle. And I salute him.

The other member of my family who fell in battle is Gilbert Samis.

Gilbert Samis is a double cousin. His mother Sadie was my GGrampa Roy's sister and his father Frank was the brother of GGreat Grandma Ada, and Delia of course. According to a news clipping he fought in Mexico during the Spanish American War. He came home to help his father run a restaurant, but enlisted in February 1917 once again. He was wounded in battle at Chateau Thierry, France, recovered and returned to action. Sadly, just over a month before the Armistice, he was wounded again at Arogonne Forest in France and died of his wounds on October 28; just two weeks before the war ended, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. I have always been so saddened by those who died within days of the end of war.

So in memory of these two family members as well as all the others who gave their lives, I give a heartfelt, humble thank you.

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The Wind

So here I sit, waiting for the power to out again. This time, I have extra water, to drink and flush with. All devices are charged to the max. I have a flashlight and a battery operated lantern nearby. Younger Son got someone else to take him to work. I am hoping he gets far enough ahead so he can catch a ride home with one of the second shift workers.

And, being Monday, in spite of the horrid weather, Hubby went to the livestock auction. I can only hope he makes it back home in one piece.

I didn't share any pictures of Christmas I guess, only the knitting. In the non-knitting realm, Little Farmer enjoyed his mega blocks, if only to take them out of the wagon, one by one.

Luckily, when you pull the wagon over the blocks, it rakes them into the wagon. He did the taking out and let Daddy do the raking up.

But what he really was impatient for was a ride in the skidsteer with his daddy.

After the boot got pulled back on though. Then they were off.

At home, gifts were opened and enjoyed as well as a wonderful ham. Younger Son had wanted an old school Nintendo with a Super Mario game. He took it to his friends to play with and has hardly stopped playing all weekend.

As for me, I worked mightily on my Navy Tweed Vest, and am caught up with the Scoreboard Cowl as well. Only one game left to add to that and then I will be joining top to bottom. I think I will pick up the stitches from the provisional cast on and then do a 3-needle bind off. The ridge from that will be a nice way to help define the season beginning and end. I am almost afraid to see just how long this is going to be when done. I haven't seen it stretched out since I tucked it into the plastic bag several weeks ago.

But this look down into the bag was from before I finished last week's game, so at least a game and a half more now, plus this coming weekend's game to add to it. There looks like several folds stacked up in there. I will definitely be able to wrap it around once or twice.

And it is barely possible that I cast on for a Hitchhiker shawl/scarf.

Hey, I think the wind shifted. It isn't hitting our east windows quite so hard now. Yea!

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Spinning and Knitting, With a Side of Genealogy

Saturday was a bit chilly in this neck of the woods. A glorious low of 31.5 was recorded on our thermometer. I love the cooler weather, but I, or rather my Cemetery Walk alter ego, Calico Jane was scheduled to sit outside the Hesperia Library spinning that morning!

My Ashford Traditional wheel hasn't been used much, especially on the road. But I finally have a car that I can (barely) get it to fit into. I had to spend some time Friday getting it tuned up and remembering how to adjust it. But it spun like a dream after profuse oiling and fiddling.

Luckily, it was a great morning. While the local history and genealogy folk were gathered inside, I filled half a bobbin of light gray Shetland wool. I was well bundled against the chill, armed with hot coffee, wool socks, a hand-spun, hand-knit wool scarf, sweatshirt cardigan, and two knit tops. Only my foot in the shoe was cold. The other was kept warm by tredling along.

After a couple hours I went in to the gathering. I discovered my Cross family line that lived in Beaver Township left me related to several people who there, including some I went to school with. My family just keeps growing, even if a certain grandniece continues to take her own sweet time.

Back home and back to knitting. With the Gray Spiral Blankie done, and the Purple Swing Cardi off the needles, I needed to pick my main project to work on. I have been working along on the Lilac Lace Cardigan, but it is a project that requires careful watching. (And it is Lilac, not Lavendar as previously reported.) Now that the Lions somewhat embarrassing game is over I do have the Scoreboard Cowl to work on as well, but that usually is done by the day after the game.

The Raspberry Creme shawl resurfaced, as well as the Rustic Blue Silk Triangle Scarf. I may frog that and start it again. After seeing the one in the local yarn store, I think it needs to be redone at a tighter gauge. I'm not quite sure if I just need to knit tighter, or use smaller needle. Thus that sits in time out while I mull that project a bit more.

But now, back to my Scoreboard Cow. I'm sure glad I purchased the extra skein of silver colored yarn. And because I don't have many pictures in this post, I decided to include one of the cutest Little Farmer in the world.

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Endings

I mentioned the Purple Swing Cardigan was finished except for the sewing. And now another item is finished.

I really like the way the spiral shows up so well once it's off the needles. Ends woven in and everything!

But now, I must be off. There is a genealogy event at the Hesperia Library today. "Calico Jane" will be there with her spinning wheel too.

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How Did That Happen?

Was it just yesterday that I posted about how busy I have been?
Now I am busier.  Well, somewhat anyway.  With busier days to come.
Yesterday afternoon I met with someone helping to plan the sesquicentennial of my hometown.  She is in charge of the weekend devoted to family,and she wants to include a cemetery walk.  Another friend of mine on the committee knew Sandy and I had helped put one together in Fremont several years ago.  (I was Calico Jane, a fictitious lumber camp cook.)  I thought I had a picture of me in costume, but lucky for you readers, I cannot find it.)
Sandy was unable to make the meeting, but I gave her some ideas of what we had done before.
It sounds like it will be a fun time.  And I may have gotten myself into a possible spinning demonstration on another weekend.
Next summer promises to be a busy one.

Family Affairs

Yesterday I shared breakfast with someone I had never met. We connected through my defunct cemetery divas blog, as well as this one when she discovered we had some family in common.

Among the many pictures she brought was this one of part of our blended great grandparents family. We are second cousins. This was one of several photos that she brought with her.

According to the back of the picture, starting from left is my paternal grandma Edna, holding her oldest daughter Florence. Behind her is her mother Carrie. After she was divorced from her first husband Calvin Jessie, she married Omar, who is seated next. Edna's oldest surviving son Floyd is in front of him. I'm not sure just what he is holding. Standing next to Omar is Flossie, Omar's daughter by his deceased first wife. She is the grandmother of the cousin I had breakfast with. Next to her is her brother, my grandfather Delva who was married to Edna, and father of the children mentioned. Last, on the right is my grand-aunt Anna. She was the daughter of both Carrie and Omar.

So to get things straight, my grandma married her stepbrother. Her stepsister married a cousin. And the search for a common ancestor takes us back to William and Abigail, my greart-great-grandparents and one set of our common ancestors. We also connect through the Fords.

Good looking couple, don't you think?

Best of all, my new cousin likes to go cemetery hopping. There may be a road trip in our future.

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Remembering Those Who Fought

Was it really 69 years ago?
D-Day, when so many lost their lives.  I watched the movie D-Day, the 6th of June recently, during the Memorial Day movie marathon of war movies.  The more history I learn, the more it awes me.
My dad, shown here had enlisted before graduation, having enough credits to graduate.  He was placed in Darby's Rangers and saw action well before D-Day, being wounded in Sicily in 1943, and home recovering by then.  Between his wounds and his hearing loss, he was unable to go back.

However, two of his brothers, the next two older, were also in the service at that time.  I do not know what kind of action they saw during the war.  At least one, Uncle Howard was in England when their father died at home in August 1945.  They chose to remain, remembering their father as he had been.  They are pictured on either side of him, on what was probably Memorial Day, 1946.  The other, Uncle Don is on the left.

Luckily they all survived the war.
On my mom's side, a cousin was also serving in World War II.  If he was there for D-Day, he survived.  I am not sure if he was there then or not.  Unfortunately Paul died during the Battle of the Bulge.
More people died on that one day 69 years ago than has died so far in the current conflict.
Let us not forget them.

And pardon one last picture of Dad, back home after the war with my grandparent's dog Ginger.  (She must have been ancient when she died!)  I just had to show off his medals, even if the picture isn't the best.

At Least There is Snow in the Village

Our history center has been decorating for winter.  One of our volunteers gave us her Christmas Village.  We spent all last Friday spreading out the snow batts and setting the houses, stores, trees and people around just right.
Then my boss lady decided we better put the lights in the buildings.
Sigh.  Never let it be said that we did things the easy way.
So today we burrowed holes in the fleecy snow and ran the cords from each building.  Since we also received a package we used the chunks of styrofoam to make a few hills.
There are cords galore.  More than we have outlets for, but it is looking great.
At least it looks like winter in the window.

Offically Open

 At long last, we had the Grand Opening/Open House at my place of work yesterday.  From the starting of the Open House until a while after the Ribbon Cutting, we were packed.  Even after the main crush of people thinned out, we had people coming until closing.

 We had much more food than this.  Once it all came in, you could hardly see the table cloth!  And there was another table of cookies up by my desk.  I tried to avoid that one though. 

 A great contingent from my church were here, as well as family members from both my family and Sandy's family.  She is my fearless leader, boss lady, and partner in crime.  

 We had a lot of positive feedback, and a lot of people came who had not been here before. 

I think we all went home and to bed, happy and excited.

Thanks, boss lady for the job.  We are going to take Fremont by storm.

In Memory

I recently had been looking for a picture of the Civil War Veterans' Memorial to use on my other blog The Cemetery Divas (see sidebar for link.)
So I drove through Maple Grove cemetery after church to get a picture.  And I got so much more.
I have seen the memorial before, but all the flags surrounding it today caught my attention.  All around it were small stones with GAR flag holders next to them.  But the most touching were ones like the one below.  Unknown Civil War Veterans. 
To see those markers, with their flags decorating their resting places truly represents the REAL meaning of Memorial Day.
(Oh, see my other blog now and on the traditional Memorial Day, May 31, for the obituary of a veteran and a victim of war.  Let them not be forgotten.)
Oops!  I mentioned the "real" Memorial Day as being the 31st.  It was the 30th.  But my posting on the Divas will still post on the 31st.
So I'm stretching the holiday.

Lake Hagen Visitors

Just like the swallows that return to Capistrano, Lake Hagen gets its own visitors each spring. And last week, the geese returned to Lake Hagen.
If you look very closely they are on the far side of the" Lake." They are quite vocal about taking possession of the lake, which you may remember is a located near the house and garden, snaking through the pasture to the property line to the neighbors.
They didn't stay long however. This past weekend we were dumped on with rain, snow, slop and then temps down to 10. The lake became a ice skating pond, and the geese moved on. Now that the temps, just five days later are in the 50's, we will have to wait and see if they come back again.
An aside for those who have been interested in my employment situation. With the opening of the Terry Wantz Historical Research Center in Fremont, I am at least semi-employed. We will be having the Grand Opening later, in April but in the meantime, I have posted pictures and some information on the Cemetery Divas, my other blog which will be able to make a resurgence.
I am so happy to be back to working, doing the kind of work I love. I may not have as much knitting time in my future, but I will have cash for stash enhancement. Its all in how you look at it.

We're Back

Some readers may know that the end of December I was hit with a double whammy in the employment side of my life.
The lawyer I had worked for the previous two years had finally decided to retire. And at the library, where I worked in the local history room, I and my co-worker were let go the same day. There it wasn't a surprise, but rather a bitter disappointment. We knew it was coming after the director and board voted to reject the grant offered to them that was tied to our department and wages. (They had voted to accept the grant if the restriction was removed, but the Foundation wanted the restriction, so the grant offer was removed.)
But good things happen to those who wait. And yesterday the Terry Wantz Historical Research Center opened, just down Main Street from the library. My former co-worker is again my supervisor/director here and we are happily engaged in preserving history and assisting our patrons in the research of their genealogy.
I hope to soon reactivate the blog we had before, The Cemetery Divas, which was a celebration of history, cemeteries and obituaries. There's is nothing like a good obituary for raising questions and learning about our early citizens.
Now that I am back working, my blogging may be more sporadic again, and my knitting time has been cut back some. But maybe I can again afford to enhance my stash.

Knitting and Sorting

Part of the reason I haven't been blogging much is that I have been both knitting and trying to get the history center set up to get ready to open.  (So maybe, soon, I can call it a job and get paid, even if only part-time.)
My desk is set up.  Our collection is being cataloged, shelved and sorted.  We have our equipment in place so I can start to scan and save obituaries, engagements, wedding announcments and other vital statistics from news clippings.  We are going to try to use a different filing system than we had at my "previous place of employment".
On the knitting front, well, Sporto continues to grow.  Thank goodness for the back shaping that keeps me out of the Black Hole of knitting.  Those markers every ten rows let me see progress, even if it is slow. 
But it is progress.  I may be only 5 1/2 inches below the armpits, but with my ample size, that's a lot of knitting!.
So for now, back to the needles.

In My Other Life

In my other life, as a genealogist/history buff, friends and volunteers are scrambling to open the Terry Wantz Historical Research Center. We are in the building, and are bringing in our own books and pictures. Furniture is being placed and I have spent several days cataloguing our inventory.

In many respects, our building is our pride and joy. While the old freezer compartments need to be aired out, the mirror, cabinets and lights are ones brought from one of our buildings previous owners. The whole marble bar was from an old World Fair in Chicago that was brought here to be the showpiece of this building which was a ice cream and candy store. With the brick walls and painted tin ceiling, it will be a great place to help people study history.

We can hardly wait to open. (Especially since I will hopefully start getting paid then.) The first steps of getting the internet connected was completed today. Hopefully we will be able to open before the end of February.

The New History Center

Now that I have been officially removed from the library local history room and payroll, I can start looking toward a new job. And the one I have cooking at the moment, is a new History Center. For natives of Fremont, this picture may give a clue to the new location

The newly restored former ice cream parlor still has the marble counter that was brought from the World's Fair in Chicago many years ago. The other counter facing this will be the printing, copying station.

Furniture is being moved into place. We are working on getting data and materials in place and hope to open soon.

To Commenter Diane

I'm not sure where she.got the patterns. You could try to link to the Etsy stow for her farm.  Or search Ravelry.
As for northern Michigan cemetaries, you might check local history societies, for Houghton county especially. 
Hope that helps.  Or comment with e-mail address.  After I get it, ill delete the comment.

Hey--I'm an Award Winner

Some of my readers here may also occasionally peruse the blog I co-author with my supervisor at t the local history room, The Cemetery Divas. We have had a lot of fun with it even though it is less than 2 months since we started it. To our great surprise this past week, we were nominated by a reader for the Kreative Blogger award. If you haven't gone to my sister blog, check it out.