Vacation Day

Nancy's skiing!

Nancy's down!

Nancy's up!

I'm okay!

Took my skiis out for about 45 minutes today. I had fun and practiced back and forth on the east/west street at the end of our alley.

I fell three times. Once, I wallowed around for about 5 minutes, trying to get up. Laughing out loud at myself, I couldn't get my feet under me and I couldn't unlatch a ski to kick it off. I was like a turtle on its back -- or better yet, like a hog on ice! I was up to the street end of the alley and I was afraid someone would call the police to come help me. It was not a pretty sight! Couldn't have been.




But I did have fun and I'll probably try it again tomorrow!

Frosty Christmas Eve

This is what it looked like about 11:00 pm last evening. Himself and I had played cards at the Freys and had a good time. This is the view out of my frosty side window on the way home.

The Small Frey were restless; excited about Santa. They were finally getting wound down about the time we went to leave.

Christmas Eve day had brought rain, then freezing rain but finally it got cold enough to snow.

And it snowed and it snowed and it snowed! Have not had the official word and the wind drifted the snow but we must have had 7 or 8" anyway. Himself cleared the driveway of great drifts. I shoveled out the front sidewalk and steps and then I pushed little paths here and there out and away from the backdoor. The drifts are 2 or 3 feet some places so I took the path of least resistance. That white stuff is heavy!

I am so thankful that our Christmas wasn't scheduled for this weekend. I would have been a nervous wreck while the families were driving or trying to drive or deciding whether or not to drive! Hopefully Sunday will be good and New Year's weekend too!

Christmas Day goes to the birds!

Santa's birds, finally, get some rest in these photos. Christmas was a long time coming and these birds have been really busy watching small children for "naughty and nice". I imagine now, all the birds will be vacationing until after New Years. And speaking of New Years, Happy New Year! one and all.

Could have been

It has rained half the day and all evening. We have even had thunder and lightening. We had a foot of snow on the ground from 8 or 9 days ago and this rain will take that down quick.

Now. Now, we are expecting more precipitation for the next two days. Maybe freezing rain tomorrow. Maybe snow on Christmas Day.

But if we would have gotten all this rain today, in frozen form, we would have had another backyard like the photo!

Photo dated February 2009.

Kraut Strudel, Cabbage Burgers (Bierocks)

Runzas!

Runzas. Kraut Strudel. Cabbage burgers. Bierocks. They are all, one and the same sandwich!

In talking (Yahoo chatting) with my Twin Lake friend, Vi, the subject of our runzas came up. After I described a Runza, Vi said her other friend made them and called them "Kraut Burroughs" or something like that. So, of course, I couldn't just let it lie and went to Google to track it down.

Shortly after Himself and I were married and living in a foreign land (Sioux City, Iowa), our local newspaper put out a yearly recipe book and the recipes were all submitted by the readers of the Sioux City Journal. Whether Himself had heard of the Runza or I just thought it sounded good, I don't remember but I tried the Runza recipe and we both liked it. We liked it so much that every year since, I have made at least one batch. For 38 or 39 years, I have been making Runzas.

When our children were still home, I'd make Runzas 2 or 3 times a years. The recipe makes a big batch and Runzas freeze well and as the bread dough and the Runza mixture never came out even, we would usually end up with some cinnamon rolls too. When I made Runzas, it was always a Win/Win situation!

Here's the crazy part. Until this day, tonight, I have never seen a Runza -- not even a picture! So when I went to the internet tonight and found a photo, I was pleased (and amazed) that the featured Runza/cabbage burger/bierock looked so very similiar to what I make!

Now, really, isn't that crazy? Or probably just plain dumb luck!

It's beginning to smell a lot

like Christmas!

I love baking!

I can't bake anymore though because Himself and I cannot eat a batch of rolls or a whole cake. Okay, we CAN eat all that but we shouldn't.

I'm thinking I could be the homemade bread baker in the Smokey Joe & Jo's Barbeque & Pasta Roadhouse. Now, if I could just find that place . . .

Celebrating Kristy's Birthday

Happy Birthday, Kristy! we are taking advantage of the opportunity and eating out to celebrate your birthday! Cheers!

PS: Wish you were here!

Can anyone guess where "here" is? Johanna and Erica, you can't play! You either, Audri!

Where are we four going to celebrate Kristy's birthday? First one to guess gets a pan of Nana's Christmas cinnamon rolls!

902 N Spruce

This is Great Gramma Sychra's house. She lived here 30 some years. Some of those years were with her husband, Joe George Sychra. A lot of those years were alone tho, as a widow. Her house is being changed, remodeled and modernized. I think Great Gramma is around, supervising. What's your thoughts?

PS: you kids, wipe your feet!!!!

Bella Boo

Our poor Bella. She's had ear infections and just plain fluid in the ears and more ear infections and hives. Her's a poor little thing and her Nana feels bad for her. Bella, your Nana would come help you if she could! You get to feeling better!

What a sweetie pie!

(Nana feels bad for Mama and Daddy too and sleep deprivation! I remember that. Well. Very Well.)

A What Knot Shelf

Gramps made this What Knot Shelf. He spent a few years crafting wooden items to sell at craft shows. He and Granny were living on a "fixed" income (monthly Social Security payments) and although still frugal and thrifty, Gramps and Granny had some good certificates of deposits in the bank but if they wanted some extra spending money, Gramps tried to increase the income rather than speed up the out go.

This pretty little shelf was made for a craft show and didn't sell. People at craft shows were reluctant to spend good money on quality items -- they would rather spend fewer bucks on inferior, imported items.

So Himself and I bought a few things from Gramps. Gramps would always argue and try not to take our money but Himself would not hear of it. So Gramps, in the face of a firm German/bohunk stance, would take the check and even cash it! And that was only right and proper and I am proud that we paid my Dad for these things.

This little shelf when I dust it or it catches my eye, makes me love it more every year. It has good classic "what knot" lines and I love the clear glass figurines that were my Grannies, on the high, half shelves. I love the blues in the different shapes of the cups handles . . . and the faded, muted roses in the cup, at right. It is all music to my eyes.

But, okay, okay. I should maybe get rid of the Bittersweet branches and the buckeye. I should maybe ditch the nature things -- and really, maybe I should dust it just a bit more often!

Christmas Secrets

What do you think Erica is telling Santa? I think she is too bashful to sit on his lap!

Christmas at Shagbark 1983

These were the good ol' days. Little children, excited about Christmas and going to Granny and Gramps'. I wonder if this was the snowy Christmas that we went in the ditch? Johanna wasn't very old and it scared her. "I want Granny!" she cried. "I want Granny!"

Guess she didn't feel like her Mama and Daddy were protecting her very well, sliding into the ditch!

I don't know if I've had writer's block or what but hopefully after Christmas I will get back on here and post photos at least, if I can't write.

Movie Review

The Duchess

"The Duchess is feisty, cool and scandalous." according to the DVD promo. I hadn't watched a movie for quite a few months. Johanna recommended this one, and loaned it to me, even, so how could I not?

I did enj0y this movie . . . from beginning interest to smugness to tears and the whole gamut again. I had not heard of Keira Knightley nor Ralph Fiennes before but will know their names next time I see their movie advertised. A very good couple of hours.

PS: this is how far behind I am . . . didn't know that Keira was nominated best actress for Pride and Prejudice, 2005. Ralph Fiennes, nominated Best Supporting Actor for Schindler's List, 1993. I hadn't a clue . . . Get with it Nana!

Girlies

These little girlies are busy making cards for someone. Can't tell! You'll have to guess.

Isabella Noel

4 months old already and she doesn't miss a thing. Most of the photos I took last weekend has Bella looking at me with a puzzled look on her face. She might be smiling and talking but she sees the camera and that is it! She is talking and cooing and trying to roll over. What a cutie pie!

Growing up

Can you believe these boys watch football, discuss football, KNOW football! These boys are growing up!

These boys helped their Nana and PaPa today. No, they really, really did help us! Himself had cut a crabapple tree down this morning. He was cutting the bigger pieces for firewood and we were going to haul the brush away. So I was helping where I could but these two boys came along and jumped in and carried wood, loaded wood into the wheelbarrow and pushed the wheelbarrow. These boys used team work (they told me, that)! Team Work got the job done.

And Team Work saved Nana and Papa time and saved Nana and Papa's backs! And, of course, we were proud of our little hard workers!

and after they were done working,

they worked some more!

Little helper

Audri was our little helper Saturday morning. She did some raking with her little rake but we kept finding her in a pile of leaves!

What are these three little girls playing?

Yep!

Ring around the Rosie.

We all fall down!

Creston Panther

Look at this girl! She is a base runner. Long stride. Adjust the helmet. Get the hair out of the eyes. Get ready!

Morghan looks like a base runner! She is going to be a ball player!

I was going to do an entry in here last summer, with one photo each of all the little ball players . . . but didn't get that done. I might have to revisit ball season this winter.

Chestnut Street, today

Even after two weeks of rain, we still have pretty trees around town and I have admired this scene every day this week (through the windshield wipers).

Also, it has been a No.1 year for burning bushes. We don't have one but they have been splendid this fall, bright, bright red!

Hope you all have had pretty scenes like this to lift your spirts!

Look what we did!

Yes, that tall one. That one in the lead. The fastest runner? That is Jack! He is pumped! This man loves football! He didn't want to stay home sick today because he would miss football. 10 minutes in the morning, 20 minutes at noon and 10 minutes later. 40 minutes of football he was going to miss!

Oh hey; Wait! That sounds like his dad, That sounds like his uncles and his PaPa on Sundays: Git out of the way! Football is on TV!

Come on in . . .

Jack got Nana in gear last evening and we decorated the front entry. First we stacked pumpkins and pots and things on my new pot stacker and lit it up with some fall leaves and halloween lights. Then we put out the cobwebs and a few snakes and spiders that we found laying around.

We like it!

Look what I made!

One day this month, the little girls got the beads out and spent the next hour or so creating! The girls are big enough now that they can string beads mainly on their own with just a little help from Nana and minimal mess.

Gabby quickly figured out a pattern that she liked and went to town!

Good Job, Gabby!

and a good day for Nana and her granddaughters.

Nana, Nana, look what I can do!

Maddie Mae called to me and I ran into the other room to find her; to find this!

To find Maddie Mae standing on her head!

I don't know how she learned to do this because I didn't teach her. I remember I was going to teach Morghan once and even practiced up standing on my head so I could show Morghan how. But Maddie Mae must have just been inspired to learn.

Madeline's "all arms and legs" reminds me of myself, when I was her age. She has my long arms, I think. Anyway, "Way to Go!" Maddie Mae!

Joey did it!

Congratulation, Joey, on your new white/orange belt!

Joey tested Sunday for his next belt -- and made it!

He is a small power house, let me tell you!

He stood right up and led.

Good job, Joe! We enjoyed watching you!

Lincoln Home National Historic Sight

Springfield, Illinois










It was notated on an Historical Marker that this angle of the Lincoln home is the most photographed angle.

Do you recognize it? I think the house always used to be white.






they may end up restoring the whole city!






























Himself and I stopped here, on our way to Kristy and Tony's. I had been to Springfield as a child with my folks but boy! has it ever changed!


I remember driving up to the Lincoln home and being able to park there. Right on the street. Now you park two or three blocks away and walk in.



And instead of just the Lincoln home, just one house, there are three or four blocks of historic, beautifully renovated homes. There's also a museum and probably much more to see than I could even begin to remember.


We were on a schedule and couldn't stay long but we walked around and looked.




I will need to go back some time . . .

St. Genevieve, Missouri

this house, on the corner in the drawing (and borrowed from the internet) may be the oldest house in St. Genevieve, if my memory serves me.

Dating back to the 1700s it (might) be of vertical log construction. oh well here, borrowed from the St. Genevieve tourism site:

"This French creole vernacular post in the ground is number three of three in Ste. Genevieve and of only five in the US. Much of the fabric of the house is intact. It is a medium-sized (about 36 feet long) creole house with a central chimney. The original hipped roof with king-post trusses and the encircling gallery have been restored" . . . so guess it it isn't the oldest but certainly a rarity. And here's my photo, taken in September . . . along with other houses.

Stop in St. Genevieve for an afternoon and you'll enjoy your visit. You'll like these old houses. You'll be charmed, I'm sure!

West Virginia Scenes

Nana got all dizzy and posted the next West Virginia series in the wrong blog! go here

http://mo-homestead.blogspot.com/2009/09/west-virginia-scenes.html

for more West Virginia photos.

This could be a Picture Postcard

This mill is in Babcock State Park, Wood County, in the great state of West Virginia. Oh wait. I may have to take that back. This cabin is NOT in Wood County, WV but I want Wood County should stick in your head, already. Wood County holds the city of Parkersburg and the city park with the Cooper cabin . . . and many of your Granny's (and your) ancestors lived here. The Vaughans, definitely, the Vaughans. The Wests, Barnetts, Mayhews maybe and the Coopers . . . oh there's more! Don't get me started!

There was a lot of stone and cement work in Babcock State Park and it dates back to the 1930s.











Himself and I stayed in this little cabin in Babcock State Park. We managed to stay in three different cabins on our weeklong road trip. This cabin was my favorite as it had a little screened sitting porch. The evening was cool and after a long drive, it was good to sit out in the cool night air and relax.

The first cabin at North Bend State Park up by Parkersburg, had two bedrooms, a regular kitchen, a living room, TV, fire place -- the works!

The cabin above was one room and a bath, with the sitting porch. It had bunk beds but they were double-size bunk beds so a family with 3 or 4 children could stay here. Mom and Dad in one bunk and three or four children in the other! It had a stove, refrigerator and sink. This was built during the Great Depression by a CCC crew. (I think the CCC will be a story for another day.) Anyway, things were old and "made do" in this cabin. Hinges too big for the particular window, for example -- but they worked. They got the job done.

The third cabin was just a bedroom and a bath. It was in Southern Illinois and was really nice but there was no kitchen, no sitting porch nor TV. Still, for the cost of a motel room, a nice place to stay.

oh say, can you tell I like cabins?

Can you tell I like West Virginia?

Ties that bind.

Happy 10th Anniversary
Craig & Tracia.


Such a milestone! Congratulations!

Did you ever think you would look back
and say, we are married 10 years.
I remember that feeling.
Astonishment. Wonder. But also

a sense of accomplishment
and pride - when you have time
to think about it because
you are busy with Life.

Focused on children and jobs
and grocery shopping. What
on earth for supper tonight?
and getting a full night's sleep.

I commend you for getting here.
For braving the elements; for taking
the chance. These milestones, truely,
are ties that binds.


Wishing you many more, Love, ma

PS: love the photo but it was very early in my digital photograhy days and not very good quality -- however, Traci is lovely and Craig beaming! I do like this pic!

I interrupt the Vacation entries to bring you this

history newscast:

Hopestill Austin on Goody Cole and a woman newly delivered.

The deposition of Hopestill Austin aged twenty-nine years or thereabout saith that about seven year ago: living in the house of Mrs. Nanneye: did see Goody Cole at the said Mrs. Nanneye's house: where the said Goody Cole hearing that Mrs. Pearson was lately brought to bed in the said house: had a desire to go see the said Mrs. Pearson and her little one; whereupon Mrs. Pearson's nurse replied that her mistress was not very well: and did not desire any more company: But she the said Goody Cole pressed to go up the stairs: but this deponent pulled her down again, saying that she should not go up: whereupon the said Goody Cole replied that it had been better she had gone up: so went away muttering; what she said this deponent cannot tell: but in a very little time both Mrs. Pearson and her child was taken very ill; and in a very sad manner: whereof the child died; Goody Cole said is there gentle folk above: this deponent said, gentle or simple you shall not go up: whereupon she went away muttering as abovesaid and further saith not. Deposed in court September 5, 1673 the prisoner at the bar. Edward Rawson Secretary.
Source: Suffolk County Court Files, 13:1228 (MA).


Nance: don't believe we are descended from Hopestill Austin . . . but what a great name . . . Hopestill! What a great story!

Himself's bounty

Himself has been busy. Aren't they "purty"?

Stillwell Road

This small (mainly) Family Cemetery lies at the junction of Rte 47 and Stillwell Road. My Great, Great Grandfather Grandmother Vaughan are buried here and another Gr/Gr Uncle (or some such) and his wife and a Grand Aunt Sue Vaughan. There are here along with family and cousins.

More current Cousins Mike and Wanda and their son, Dave and Susie all live on Stillwell Road and cousin Mark and his wife, Gina live "above" Stillwell Road. Then there's Joe and Dixie but I think they've moved. I don't think they live on or above or below Stillwell Road. 30 years ago Joe lived on Farrell Lane, I think! but maybe now where Vaughan Lane is but with the roads going every which direction . . . I sure wouldn't know for sure! Click here for map -->

Map of 3807 Stillwell Rd Davisville, WV by MapQuest

Shared via AddThis

Historical Markers -- at last!

http://www.hmdb.org/

My mother told how her folks, Katherine "Byrd" Vaughan and Lewis Coe worked at a lumber camp one winter in the Hills of West Virginia. The train ran to Camden on Gauley, WV and then somehow, they were loaded up and taken "up" the mountain to the lumber camp. Granny was only 3 or so and just had a few memories of this time plus what her Mother had told her. She and her older brother were pretty much doted on by the lumber jacks as they were the only children around. I'm not sure what my Grampa's job duties were . . . maybe just plain lumber jack but my Granny was the cook. Can you imagine cooking for a crew of 20-30 men, morning, noon and night?

Anyway, Camden on Gauley would have been on the Gauley River so this Historical Marker caught my eye when Himself and I were in West Virginia this month.

Actually, all Historical Markers catch my eye and I always want to stop and read them. I don't always get to stop but I am always ready to stop. So a year or so ago, Kristy and Tony told us of an idea Tony had (the way I remember it, anyway) of creating a data base of Historical Marker locations. I thought that was a great idea and I even started my own data base of places I have been, what town has all the brick houses?, what town is the best example of French/Creole houses in the US? what town has the water tower with a smiley face, etc.

Then. There! Last evening while trying to learn more about the Gauley River and this historical marker, I found this web-site -- the Historical Marker Data Base. Yep. There is one and it is good.

Sorry, Tony . . . someone beat you to it! http://www.hmdb.org/

I can't figure out how to put in a link so you'll have to copy and paste this into your browser.

Parkersburg, West Virginia

Built and lived in by my grandchildren's great, great, great, great, great, great grand parents, Henry and Lydia Posey Cooper -- and my children's 5 greats! It boggles my mind!