Wordless Wednesday ~ Body Language

Celebrating Veteran's Day 2015 My dad in Europe WWII

Tombstone Tuesday ~ Ed Langley and Ethel Grote

Near last week's tombstone was my Aunt and Uncle.  Edwin R Langley was the brother of my father and Dora Langley... (she will be for next week).

My cousin and I had been talking about family history via email.  In our conversations were discussions about tombstones.  He decided he wanted to personalize his parent's tombstone with a picture.  He did some study on it and this was his final email on the subject.
"Dad purchased the cemetery lots and this stone about 5+ years before he died.  He put a lot of thought into the stone and was very proud of the fact he got it done.  I have always been amazed at the pictures on some of the older stones that are always very clear and never seem to fade even when facing the sun…..recently I found out that the reason for never fading is because they are ceramic (imagine that!!!!).   Recently I sent you a pic that I took from a portriat that was taken when mom and dad were in their mid-40's which they both liked.  I have decided to add a ceramic pic to the headstone  using the one I sent you…..I think they would approve."
I agreed. I think they would have been greatly pleased.

The picture he chose.

Ethel is the Daughter of  George and Hattie Grote

Treasure Chest Thursday ~ Grandchild Number 3

Bright and shining Copper Top...

Princess Dynamo... She was always moving.
This is the story of  the Hero helping save her. 

She had a special relationship with her uncle.
He loved watching her and had a way with helping with getting her to take a nap.

This was one of my favorite studio pictures of her.
She did not grow up to be a phone person.

Her 6th birthday. She was flexible with celebrations. Look at that copper hair.

Always animated... Here she is at her uncle's wedding and freezing.
 If she had to smile she would give it her best.

She became quite the multi media artist.  

2010 such a sweetheart.
 She sings and helps.
A naturally good person.

She asked if I could make her a mermaid costume in 2014,
then she decided that she could do it herself.
What a great job she did.

She has started performing with a local theater group.
She sings and dances.
Her personality sparkles

This is her scrapbook page I made especially for her.
I adore being with her.

May you all enjoy your Treasures.

Wordless Wednesday ~ What We Support

Tombstone Tuesday

A post by Amy Johnson Crow took me to my cemetery pictures to see if I was following her "5 Photos You Should Take at the Cemetery"
I was good.  Whew.  Want to make sure time is not wasted when making the trip and stop.
Below is the picture of my Aunt and Uncle's Parents.  My dad's brother and sister married a brother and sister.  Those are for easy genealogy lines. JI was looking for their tombstones, which I did get, when I noticed most of the Grote family is buried in close proximity, I went ahead a grabbed a picture of  the parents tombstone.

Tombstone for George and Hattie Grote and their son Delbert.

A close up: 

I made sure I could read the epitaph.

"At rest but not forgotten"

The cemetery sign was a must since a huge number of my dad's family is buried there.

I went a little back wards at this, but I did the work. Happy Tombstone Day,

This is for Kenny and his cousins.

Madness Monday ~ Why Can't I Leave It Alone.

I am choosing to write about that which I have a tendency to do.  I will come across a descendant in my family line that doesn't have a death date or any other information.  I become distracted from my own  direct line and begin searching to make sure everything is filled in for that person. Of course, that tends to send me off down other rabbit holes as Carol of the blog Reflections from the Fence says.
Today, I began to research a sister of my great great grandmother. Her name was Mary Hankins. I found she married a Reuben McCroskie, whose surname had been slaughtered in almost every census and ages messed up.  I soon found their child Nancy's, who turned out to go by Ellen, married a Samuel Green in Ray County, Missouri and her line was not finished.  Now these are from the 1830s up so most I would expect some to be done.  I am not finished yet, but one young lady intrigued me... Phyllis J Holmes.

Phyllis Holmes 1942 Yearbook picture

 Her mother the daughter of Nancy Ellen McCroskie Green, Beatrice Helen who married a Clayton P Holmes.  Beatrice died at 24 of Tuberculosis.  Leaving Phyllis who was 2, motherless.  I do not know who raised her because I not found her yet on a census with her father who remarried. He was a pharmaceutical salesman and he married a pharmacist. I did find Phyllis went to college at  Kansas Wesleyan University and found a picture of her, as well as who she married. Unfortunately, it was in a time period, I do not know if she ever had children.  She died in 1973 in Los Angeles, California; her husband remarried and moved to Oklahoma.  No clues.  I hope if she did have children, they will be joined with her tree.
Beatrice opened another dilemma for me as her obit names a brother Bud Green.

Beatrice death certificate and obit

Another one I have not found on the census. Wonder if Bud was a nickname.  Well, still working on that rabbit hole.  Need to stop and do some work as I have been at this all day.
Genealogy throws you curves.  J

Sentimental Sunday ~ Memory of A Great Trip

One fall, the Hero and I were driving our daughter to Utah for her fall college semester.  We decided to go through Taos, New Mexico area because none of us had ever been in that area before and the scenery promised by brochures was going to be great.

We stopped at an out of the way group of bungalows before we got there.  It was an awesome place. There weren't any electronics, or phones, no outside world at all.  Our son was with us too. He was so excited no one could interrupt with a phone call.  We and a wonderful time visiting; they had games too and the kids went for a short hike. (nope no pictures...silly me, but no smartphones back then either.) Short digression here, I asked my daughter if she remembered and I am giggling over her answer:  "Yes, I remember him going on and on about how quiet it was... he wouldn't be quiet.... it was lovely and I remember the cold creek out behind it."...

When we left to continue our journey, we were relaxed and filled with happiness.  The trees were breathtaking and the air was so clear as we drove in the mountains. The Hero gave way to our request to stop at the first scenic pull over in spite of a tight schedule. It was so beautiful looking down through the trees.

We saw these. This is from a brochure.

picture from the area on Wikipedia

 Away from the world and all its cares, my daughter turned on the Enya "Watermark" album for her and myself to dance our best joyful uninhibited interpretation of the music.  We were having so much fun. Our son and the Hero, just leaned back on the rocks and smiled.  They knew we were silly.  

Our reverie was interrupted by a car pulling in behind us and an older Native American gentleman got out.  We quickly turned down our music, when he approached us.  I guess we were expecting a scolding for so much noise.  Instead, we were surprised when he said  "I have not stopped here for many years and enjoyed the scenery.  When I saw you dancing with so much joy, I had to stop. I remind myself now, that I should take the time to enjoy what is here. Thank you for reminding me."  

We never know how we are going to affect someone else. This man was uplifted by our joyous dancing and he reminded us that one should not ignore the beauty around us as we become busy in life.  

The rest of our trip was filled with a feeling of happiness.  We deposited our daughter at BYU and then drove back home on I70 through Colorado. The choice to drive up the scenic way was one of the best we ever made.  

I am glad I am writing this because my daughter had forgotten our dancing in the woods..,

Don't forget to stop and smell the roses... one of my favorite sayings.  J