You may be wondering why, as it is Wednesday, that I am writing of Monday's adventures. Eh...that's a story we'll get to in a few moments, so bear with me. ;)

Monday I worked some on getting stuff out of Savannah's room and back into mine--I pulled all my yarn out of the dresser that isn't going back into my room and packed it into several Vitacost boxes. Mmmhhhm...I need to knit a little more. (I recently sold a pair of socks via my Etsy shop, so I do actually move the things from time to time!) Anyway, between boxing up the yarn and putting it on my new shelves and arranging my hat collection on the same said shelving, that is about all I got done in the morning. Very sad, I know--but we are such terrible slow-pokes in the mornings!

Well, I drafted back upstairs some time after lunch and piddled about a little more til I decided that I would turn my attentions to my "foot-locker" (actually a covered wooden box). I planned, ever since hauling it north from Florida that I was going to eventually strip off the old covering and recover it...or something. "Well," thought I, "now is as good a time as any. I'm more likely to get it done if I do it before I put it back into my room."

Following this line of reasoning, I pulled it's contents out (costumes and various reenacting and/or prop gear) and hauled the greatly lightened box to the garage where I began pulling staples and tiny nails. After I took the hinges off, that is.

I whipped out my pocket knife and started cutting off the vinyl material. Almost as soon as I began cutting, I started to get just a little excited....

Let me step back a moment and explain that I assumed that Grandmother had covered this box in the early to mid-sixties due to the apparent age of a particular relative who had scrawled her name in crayon on the back of it. It clearly had been the kids toybox.

Anyway, as the vinyl came off, I discovered that Grandmother had first covered the box with newspaper and then the brown material. It was the newspapers that got me excited.

I don't suppose it was even so much the newspaper at first as the date on it. She had used portions of the November 1, 1953 edition of the Miami-Herald to cover this box. Notably, the sports pages and some ads.

1953.

Grandmother and Granddaddy did not meet until 1958. So--this box had been covered not only a rough decade before the time I assumed it had, but even before my grandparents first laid eyes on each other! Things like that kind of give me a variety of jitters. I suppose Anne of Green Gables would define that as a "thrill". ;)

I took pictures of most of the newspaper, thinking that some of my friends might enjoy looking at the old ads in particular.

About this time, I decided to go take care of the chickens in my normal evening routine. I'll leave you there for the moment and finish the box story. It was determined after Daddy pulled the cardboard out of the bottom and uncovered--mold--that we should just pitch it. Well, bummer, but okay. I'm all for getting rid of mold infested "things".

Anyway, back to the chickens. Some of y'all already know where this is headed, but another telling hurts nothing. ;)

I had already fed the layers and collected the eggs and moved on out to feed the meat birds. I cleared out the first tractor and bent my knees and back into the heave-ho routine. I had perhaps another three feet to go when the strap's s-hook slipped off the PVC frame (I've never had this happen before). Naturally, as I was in mid-pull, I went sailing backwards into the clover. I landed primarily on my right leg/side and that didn't hurt much. BUT (you knew that was coming, didn't you?) somehow, with the left arm all rag-doll floppy, I whacked my left wrist into the ground. My palm was facing the ground, but also tilted up a bit...rather like a shallow 'v' if you were looking at my arm and hand from the side. Anyway, the wrist hit first and as I rolled into a sitting position, I knew. 

My wrist had gone immediately stiff. 

It didn't really hurt, but I knew before I got to my feet that I'd just broke a bone for the third time in five years. 

I'm actually still in the splint they put on me at Med-Express (faster and cheaper than the ER--probably nicer too :] ). I go to see an orthopedic doctor tomorrow morning before lunch. I admit that I am slightly disappointed that I couldn't view the x-rays on my computer--wrong file type. I like looking at the x-rays so that I can really see the break--but I was informed that it was just the radial bone--clear across. I guess I must have bashed it just right...

SO...anyway. I'm just grateful that I cracked the ol' left wrist rather than busting the right one again!!

Leading up to D-day, we were busy as buzzz-bees (excuse the song references that may find themselves working their way into this recitation) sewing and going all around nutty--in my case at any rate. I wanted to get out by 10 am on Friday so bad that I pushed so hard that I forgot a number of items--for instance, wash-water and my Sunday clothes. Well. And for all that, we still didn't pull out until near 11 am!

Anyway, to back up a wee bit, our sweetheart of a friend Miss K. came along this year and with her came her brother N. N got me laughing so hard that we had to tell him to tone it down because, as the driver, I needed to be able to see--which I can't do when laughing as hard as I was. Anyway, in between spurts of jokes and PSA's N napped as did K. It's a phenomena that I can't quite get my head around--how does one drop off to sleep like that?

So Friday. Like I said, I wanted to get out by 10 (hoping for even earlier) and we didn't make it out until 11. N helped me to load the truck while the girls continued to get their beauty rest (and I don't mean that snarky at all--I was fine with them still being in bed because I went to bed earlier than they had and I also know that tent camping isn't exactly the most conducive to fantastic sleep and neither one of them is exactly in one-hundred percent tip-top health [me either for that matter])...but anyway we managed to squeeze everything and everyone in eventually and headed south. I drove a little faster than I had wanted to, but I really, really, REALLY wanted to arrive before dark so that we didn't have to set up after nightfall like we had last year.

Well, we arrived, signed in and decided to skip supper (which turned out to be spaghetti again which at least two of us couldn't eat anyway) in order to go set up at the Courter's place where we camped last year. I think we even got the exact same spot....

After doing a rush-job there, we whizzed back into town, windows down, soaking up the Tennessee air and rolled into the vendor area where we unpacked nearly all the rest of the truck and got the tables and tent set-up, leaving the boxes packed--which due to the amount of humidity (read "DEW") was smart--everything would have been as wet as we were in the tent that night. 

They were fixing to play the Friday evening movie, so we hauled our coolers back to an unoccupied table and supped upon the contents. I about choked a couple of times over the Walt Disney scrap-drive cartoon. It was highly amusing.

It is clear to me, looking at the photos, that our photographer didn't ask anyone to take her picture and none of us were considerate enough to think of it. Sorry Katherine!! Kick me next time please! (One of our quad was fast asleep hugging a bench, so he naturally wouldn't have thought of it. ;] )

During the film, an acquaintance dropped by and we probably talked for 15-30 minutes discussing what our respective families have been up to since the last time we had spoken as well as trivial things like what was going on on the screen "up there". It was nice to see Paul.

We rolled on out after the film at some point and hit the sack. I didn't sleep very grandly, as the ground felt harder than usual and I also felt like I was going to roll down hill if I relaxed. Anyway, I slept enough to get me through the day without falling apart. :D 

Saturday didn't go exactly as I had planned, as I had intended/hoped to catch some of the speakers, spend some greater amount of time gabbing with a dear friend, attend what I'm sure was a very cool presentation of aerial training, and also spend a little more time looking at things, as well as being a bigger help at the vendor area. However, though things didn't go as planned, it was fine because I got to spend quite a lot of time with Bob, whom I call my "best beau":

I took undue delight in introducing my friends to Bob--even at one point marching importantly across the street to accost Luke K. (who, along with his dad, was dressed in a sailor's uniform) and demanding (probably very much impishly) if he'd like to meet a real sailor! Thus I drug nearly the whole K. family across to meet Bob and got to listen to him tell stories again. :)

Speaking of Bob, the Boyer Sisters serenaded him personally  with "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and he was truly delighted. In fact, I think he was pretty pleased with all my friends because he told me later, "You have a bunch of real nice friends." So, for any of you reading this--THANK-YOU!! You helped make a 96-year-old sailorman happy! 

I have so far neglected to mention that Johnny (Bob's brother) was there too. Johnny left before Bob did, but it was real nice to see him too. The two of them are still best friends and quite a pair!

I may return to Bob here in abit, but for now, I'm going to grasp at a few other Saturday memories while they are in my head.

THERE WAS A B-17 FLYOVER. 

Mr. K and Luke were at our vendor tent, replete in their sailor's duds, and I can't remember if I was in the middle of a sentence or not, all I remember is, I saw her coming and as she roared overhead, bomb bay door open, I literally tore out the back side of the tent (probably with some sort of thrilled exclamation) and waved frantically. I later felt that I was probably a bit rude, but since they also enjoyed seeing "Sentimental Journey" fly over, that it was okay. :D Oh well, now the K's know how I react to old warbirds. It's odd how excited I get over a hunk of flying steel....

I grabbed K at some point and we went off to get ourselves a half-track ride...only it really was a troop-truck. :) Still, it was fun! We were squeezed in nice and tight and I struck up a conversation with the girl on the other side of me (Julianne, I think it was) and I actually forget what all we talked about--but I think I remember correctly that she was from Alabama. Still, it was a nice little, somewhat hollared conversation and we grinned at each other when we saw one other later on. 

There was a BT-13 (Daddy said, "Basically a fixed gear T-6") which they did a training demo with, but I didn't hear that because I was up near the courthouse with Bob, rather than down at the encampment. However, Bob and I enjoyed watching the plain roaring overhead and he got to talking about how it can be overwhelming when you have 40 planes diving at you...the noise brought back some memories for him, but he didn't seem overly disturbed. He tells me that he was never really frightened, he fell back on his training so much that he just wasn't scared. He mentioned how when the Hornet was attacked at the time that he hurt his back, "I had on my anti-flash suit and life vest and I don't remember putting them on."

There were also a number (say two or three) other planes that I'm not calling to mind their make, though definitely radials, with fixed wings on the lower side of the fuselage, likely trainers of some sort that flew around both during the battles and not--and when the Veteran's Parade was underway.

Bob and Johnny didn't want to be in the Veteran's Parade; in fact, Johnny left before it started, but I stood around with Bob watching it and talking with him and his nephew Eric some more. I think a number of the K's were still there at that point too, so it was a nice homey group (I just about put homely...which certainly wasn't the case).

The morning battle saw the Krauts taking over the town and in the afternoon battle the Allies took it back. We were down in the vendor area for both battles, and looking at the spectator area's crowdedness, perhaps that wasn't a bad idea. Sure, there was more action up that street, but we might not have been able to see any better anyway.

There were both more reenactors and spectators this year in addition to more vehicles. The German's had a tank:

And some sort of armoured car which Katherine apparently didn't get a picture of; there were some motorcycles, an armoured troop carrier, and an armed Volkswagon! 

Speaking of motorcycles, the German medic rode one...and there is a story to go with him.

There was a young American soldier who was the only surviving member of his squad and he found a barrel to hide behind as the German's pushed into town:

Well, that there Kraut Medic pointed him out to the troopers in front of him--and they shot the poor fellow!

I didn't actually see this go down, but Katherine did and so I thought I would share the story; particularly as she has photographic proof...

I don't have a plethora of battle stories this time, but I do recall seeing this man take a hit...and then his helmet and helmet liner sit there and rock back and forth:

Oh, and by the way, here's an example of what not to do in the middle of a battle:

Also, right there with this same jeep, there was a man who appeared to be sniping--thing is, he took forever to aim, then lowered his rifle and fiddled with it for a bit, and then brought it back up and took forever to aim again...and never squeezed the trigger. There was something strangely awkward about the whole situation...perhaps it was the fact that at one point he looked over at me and it seemed like he was aware of the fact that I was watching him intently. I don't know, but that incident sticks out rather oddly.

And just for good measure, one blurry, but maybe artistic shot of the same jeep:

So I like that one for some reason.

Speaking of jeeps and military vehicles, for the past couple of years, I've been after a half-track ride. Well, it finally happened Saturday night. After the supper and USO show and fireworks were over and my head was pounding, we first got a jolly go-round in the back of a red Ford owned by the Courter's and driven by Jessica (who also had a headache, poor thing); we picked up a load of young soldier boys part way through town and I got to hear about the Henry Ford Festival at Greenfield Village from the blue-eyed young'un standing on the running board. I confess that I remember very little of what Robert actually said...but found it amusing at the time. It actually made me laugh because I knew who he was because I'm FB friends with his mother and I told him that and he kind of rolled his eyes. It didn't dampen his enthusiasm any however and he kept chattering at me and his pals until the drop off.

Anyway, we had a chance, after hopping off the Ford to catch the last ride on the half-track! I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to get up there, particularly in my formal and heels, but with a hand given to each of the young men in the back, and a dose of "forget about looking graceful" and a foot stuck way in the air, I was pulled/hopped up to be followed quickly by Katherine, the K ladies, and a several of the K fellas. I nearly fell as soon as I was in because my leather soles slid on the rather inclined metal interior, but I didn't fall. Miss K and N were both in the truck rather exhausted and therefore missed further rides. Anyway, we took off down the street and zipped about. On our way back up, the damper was put on the evening when Mr. Courter hailed the half-track asking if any of the K's were on board. As most of the passengers were K's he quickly passed the information that Josiah had jumped off a moving vehicle and was in an unknown condition. Isaac stayed on with Katherine and I while the rest of the family were assisted down and ran to where Josiah was.
​
I will skip ahead here and let y'all know that Josiah was alright. It was a great relief to see him on Sunday morning, looking exhausted and worn to be sure, but very much on his feet. I was really kind of worried about him. I later got a grin out of him that almost made me cry because I was glad to see the twinkle behind those ornery eyes. 

So, I DID get my half-track ride and it was fun despite the way it ended up. Perhaps I can hop another next year....

We returned to our camp shortly thereafter I took my headache to a readjusted bedroll and slept like a log. I was still tired next morning, but I wasn't in pain any more, so I was happy about that.

However, I wasn't overly thrilled over when I realized that I had left my red-striped sailor outfit at home  by accident--so I had to go to church looking (or at least feeling) slightly frumpy in my gored denim skirt (thing is starting to wear out) and a t-shirt borrowed from my sister. That shirt looks real nice on her, but green isn't exactly my best color. :D

Anyway, I don't believe the saying that "clothes make the man", so I could go to worship just as reverently in my "frump" as my "frills" (not that my sailor suit is exactly frilly). The church service that took place after some music and a talk by Mr. Potter, being held in the local Southern Baptist Church wasn't exactly what I'm used to as far as depth of content and such...I understand also that it was somewhat unusual circumstances and they were trying to keep with the history theme, so they kind of leaned towards songs most of us think of as more "patriotic" than "churchy".

After church, we were fed again (a billion thanks to these folks for feeding us multiple times!) and some people headed out to the Axis vs. Allies baseball game. We were not among them. I actually intended to leave around 1-2...but we didn't pull out until 3 local time...because, some of us were playing music (I'm glad I slid my spoons into my purse!) and then the Katherine  and K ended up helping Mrs. Courter clean up. I did just a very, very small amount right before we left, but I really spent most of my time here:

The musicians, as follows in no particular order. Katherine tried, but didn't quite get individual shots of everyone so I'll post the singles first and then move to the group shots; ladies first for some reason... ;)

I'm going to insert here real quick that Luke very graciously let me try out his accordion. It was harder to work the bellows (if that is what it's called) than I expected...and I couldn't see the buttons very well, so he had keep putting me right. :D It was fun and I appreciate the mini-lesson. I have greater respect for accordion players now...Thanks Luke!

Okay...y'all might be bored by any more...I tried to pick the best ones!

Here's a few shot of "The Ocean Mutts". Don't ask. I'm not allowed to tell... ;) 

And just because I must...here are a few more shots:

I think I have nearly run out of things to say...even though there is probably plenty more, it's too "partial" to be of much interest, so we'll close out here. :) We arrived home safely (obviously) and I've been working on this on and off all day in my tired, slow-poke state. I did however, find a photo with Katherine in it on FB--so I'm going to put that here, but I'm going to try to trim everyone out but her, so you can see how nice she looked without anyone or anything competing for your attention!

Love that smile, classy girl! 

Another of the Greatest Generation has passed into eternity. Sunday morning, at 1:08, my 93 year old grandpa crossed the threshold of death after three weeks in the hospital.

Born December 10, 1922, Grandpa had lived a full life. He grew up on a farm, played basketball in high school (which he enjoyed), served his country during WWII (though never did he see combat), later farmed, fished commercially, and kept bees--in addition to a thousand other things like building his own house from the foundation to the roof (including doing the wiring himself) and mechanicing until he no longer could. He raised four children and his several grandchildren were all honoured and privileged to know him.

Below I have posted some of my favorite photos of him--some from far, far before I was born!

Yesterday, the 27th of July, two-thousand and six, we laid Grandpa to rest.

If you find photos the deceased and funerals morbid, I beg you forgive me. I just think the funeral home did such a beautiful job with him...he looked so peaceful and happy that I could not help smiling back.

For the second time now I was a pall bearer. Once again, for a grandfather.

The other pall bearers were Daddy, Savannah, Katherine, my cousin Danny, second cousin Denny, and Fred and Davy (our farmers). 

I have no true assurance, but I do have hope, that one day I will see my Grandpa again in heaven. The peace I have had throughout this whole time can only have come from God.

I said "Good-night, Grandpa" last Saturday evening before kissing him gently on the forehead. When I got up Sunday morning, I found a note beside the coffee pot written by my mother. I didn't have to read it to know that he was gone. Just it being there told me the story. So now I say, "Good-bye, Grandpa." I'm just glad I had those few minutes with him a few days before he passed when he was awake and clearly aware that his family was around him.

I salute you. 

I did this interview with Grandpa Thanksgiving 2013.

My lower lip is split. Thankfully, it doesn't hurt like it did yesterday. However, that remark about a split lip means nothing to you, unless you know that for two days (plus some), I spent the majority of my time out of doors, in glorious sunshine, getting a little burnt and dehydrated...

That's right, Katherine and I felt the call of another reenactment this past weekend and hit the road Friday afternoon after a wild race of a morning (for me). I had to round up and pack everything--which I normally would have done the day before we left--because Thursday had two obstacles to that. Number One: I was single-mindedly focused on finishing up my new underpinnings. I'm pleased to say that I now have enough underpinnings for three days of fresh wear. Number Two: I was not sure I was going to feel well enough to go anyway. I was down and out (still not sure how I managed to sew) all day. 

Katherine minded the shop Friday morning and so I gathered the tentage and sleeping gear out of the hayloft, brought the clothing, bedding, and kitchen boxes up from the basement, ironed the dresses, and scrambled to finish assembling the food. Mom ran to town and picked up a few more items to fill in our cooler before coming home, eating, and heading to the Farmer's Market.

When we did get out, it was someplace near 3 pm, give or take. I stopped just east of our town to see if the smell we were smelling came from our engine--couldn't locate anything off--so we continued. I did actually remember to check the gauges fairly often (I normally forget) and checked the oil at a rest stop further up the road. Everything seemed fine, so I quit worrying.

It was probably about 6-something when we arrived at our destination. We headed into the camp to find registration when we were hailed by a twice-before met acquaintance. I think it's rather safe to say that Hawk and Jill are now friends. :) But anyway, we talked for a bit then went over and registered and then crossed the road to set up.

Wouldn't you know it...we had our modern tent set up and were just starting to bring in the bedding when Hawk comes over and says something like this, "I don't know why I didn't think of this before...but we have an extra A-frame if you'd like to use that...."

​We did and we did. :)

After Hawk helped us set up (and he was right--an A-frame is easier to set up than a modern tent) we ate us a bit of supper then strolled back across the camp to Hawk and Jill's where we would stay until probably about 11:30 talking...and listening to Hawk tell Bible stories. He has quite a knack for livening them up, staying within the bounds of Scripture. The story of Jonah for instance...well, you'd have had to heard it--even with a ten minute intermission. 

I might add here, we also made the acquaintance of a young man (who reminded Katherine of one brother and me of another, but no matter) named Josh. He has an infectious grin and a sense of humor to match--so between the two men, the ladies had a deal of laughing. No complaining on that front. Anyway, it wasn't until the next day when I saw him in uniform that I realized that Josh was none other than the fella at the Coldwater dance that I had saucily asked if he were dyslexic (not very nice as I realized in reflection). I had actually been going to ask him if he were homeschooled (we have a reputation for getting our left and right mixed up, ya know), but I changed my mind at the last minute because if he hadn't been he wouldn't have understood! Turns out he was "home-teached" as he put it with an ornery look. I got to confess my folly and was forgiven of it after an, "Oh, that was you! I recognize you now..." (I was wearing the same dress and even had my hair the same!!)

Anyway...we finally straggled off to bed and poor Katherine didn't have enough blanket on Night One.

Saturday morning, I woke up and had to ask Katherine for her camera...I had a couple of views out from under the tent edges that I had to shoot.

After dressing, I fired up the propane single burner (yes, yes...I know, so authentic! But remember--we were planning on modern camping) and made coffee then...scrambled eggs. 

Last time, I forgot the butter and the K's were so gracious as to speedily hand me a stick when I shamelessly asked if I could 'borrow' some. This time, I remembered the butter--but I forgot the spatula to turn the eggs with! Thus, scrambled it was. Can't get anything perfect when you're out of practice, you know...

After breakfast, we then meandered back across to bug Hawk, Jill, and Josh as we would end up doing for the majority of the weekend. Hawk was fixing to make a Celtic knot "thump mat" for a hot pad and I ended up "helping" by pulling the on the rope. Josh pulled out his smart phone (so the things do come in handy from time to time) to get directions. Hawk said he's made a ton of these things, but he just couldn't remember how to get it started because it had been awhile.

There was to be a "wash-day" scenario that devolved (planned) into a water fight in the morning. Well, I got talked into helping out since they had a dearth of ladies to help. (Who am I kidding? I didn't require much by way of arm twisting to get me out there, despite I didn't have another outfit to change into.) I was really only supposed to get mildly damp, but a little girl who joined in the fun didn't know that and dumped a tin cup full of water down my back. Well! I got her back a couple of times. ;) Probably the most disconcerting part of the whole thing was this little boy who had joined in the water fight. He was already quite wet and was soaking other people thoroughly, so I picked up a small bucket of water and snuck up behind him and dumped it on him. I was not expecting the nasty look I got. If he'd have been a dog, he'd probably have growled and bit me. As it was, he took after me with a vengeful air. Some sport, what? (The difference between me going after the little girl and the little boy coming after me was that I was really not upset by the cold water running down my back and the young man was angered by it. That's the difference. I was playful, he was vengeful. I just don't quite understand that.....)

Next on the agenda, after lunch, and more talk, and strolling through the sutlers (I did not purchase anything this time), was the battle!

The event planners split the six-hour battle of Ball's Bluff, Virginia into two days. Saturday, "we" were repulsed by the Yankee's on the high ground, but on the Lord's Day, the tyrants were firmly defeated.

Here's the first day in pictures:

And the second (Katherine's camera battery died before the end of the battle):

Anyway...back to Saturday. After the battle, we ended back up at Hawk and Jill's and a couple of us pulled our guitars out and singing and playing commenced for a bit. We had a little visitor who just loves music and really didn't care how bad or beautiful any given person sang, just so long as they sang!

While this was going on, suddenly, firing broke out from the battlefield! It's too bad that Katherine didn't get a picture of Josh dashing through the line of tents, rifle in hand. 
We ladies ended up by the battlefield where we observed the impromptu skirmish--and a bit of an anomaly: 

Later that evening, Hawk would prepare some fish in one of the neighbor's fires...Rainbow trout. It was good. :) Katherine took a few more interesting pictures before we headed off to bed.

Sunday's church service was the best attended reenactment church service I have ever been to. There were even a number of spectators who participated. I was pleasantly surprised to see the entire seating area was full. Hawk and Jill guesstimated somewhere between 45-50 people. More importantly than numbers however, was the spirit of the thing. While definitely not what my Reformed Presbyterian self it used to, the atmosphere was reverent (more than what I can say for some "reformed" churches I have been to). But all the elements where there--singing, prayers, and teaching from the Word of God. (Josh asked me in a half-scold, "You didn't bring your guitar?" I wasn't quite sure how serious he was the night before when he asked me what I wanted to play next morning...I guess whenever next time is, I'll help him accompany the singing!) The message, while not long or deeply "theological", was both informative and edifying. Katherine and I had actually already heard the body of it Friday evening, but it didn't hurt to hear it again. :) Did you know that in the first verses of John 14 (Passover), that Christ was quoting the Hebrew marriage ceremony? Let that sink in....

Shortly after the church service, the event planners had scheduled another "washing" scenario--only this time, it was giving a couple of soldiers a bath! (We did not participate. And the men were still fully clothed, by the way--just so's you know.)

At roughly the same time, a young man showed up at Hawk and Jill's tent in nothing but his undershorts--because he was supposed to get into Hawk's long red underwear and be paraded around in the barrel that proclaims "Do not Drink or Gamble". Well, it became apparent after a bit that he was too large for the red flannel underwear--so he crawled into the barrel in just his shorts (with a little help from Josh):

He was then summarily paraded through the camp, Jackie ringing the bell to declare the way before him and the rowdy crowd of his pals. He was such a great sport about it, even offering to do it again next time...At the end of the line, he got an admonishment from Hawk (I really have no idea what was said)... 

It wasn't too long after this that we ate our lunches and converged on the battlefield. This time, Katherine and I sat up by the Union artillery (why? Dunno...) and watched the battle as it unfolded and the Yankees got wiped out. I do admit though, that only two or three "dead" Confederates was a little unrealistic.

After the battle, we sat around with Jill and Hawk for a bit, discussing church and such things, said "adios" to Josh, who left almost immediately, and then went and broke down camp ourselves. Returning the tent to Hawk, we said our farewells (we would have stayed and helped them breakdown, but I actually think we would have been more in the way than help because when one knows where everything goes and how things get taken down, having to stop and give directions slows them down), and hit the road. I think I munched most of the way home to keep myself alert. I'm also glad we stopped and got a cup of coffee north of FW. I needed it.

Upon arriving home, we unloaded the stuff that came into the house and I forthwith slid into my bee gear to do some unplanned and unusual for Sunday bee-work. The bees were bearding bad enough to get attention. I think they were simply hot, but I went ahead and added a super on to each hive since both colonies were quickly running out of room.

Thus far is the story of the Turkeyville Civil War reenactment....

And I suddenly realized--I don't have that lovely picture of Katherine up!! (I am not bragging on my photography skills--snapping pictures has nothing to do with the photogenic-ness of your subject...)

I have four friends with birthdays this week...somehow that amuses me. :) Three are, or are past, and one still to come. My brother-in-law's birthday is next week (if I'm right on the date), so it's a birthday-ish kind of month, it seems! Naturally, Katherine is our "Sunshine Lady" as Mom puts it, so any mailed out cards have passed through the adorable child's hands.

Speaking of adorable, here's her shop outfit for today. Ain't she just PURDY??

Back to this week so-far though. I can't exactly remember Monday...unless Monday was the day Katherine and I went to Jo-Ann's. If it wasn't Monday, it was Tuesday.

Well, anyway, we went to Jo-Ann's because I have a number of Civil War underpinnings to make for certain persons--preferably before next weekend which is our first reenactment of the season! I, being the entire doof that I am, misread the sale ad and thus was happily expecting the muslin to be 50% off. Oh. It doesn't start until THURSDAY, you say? Well...now that I feel stupid, I'll come back then and get my mass of yardage! (Which I did, this morning, in conjunction with a grocery run. I walked out with an entire bolt of muslin for just over $25.)

I was also pricing for possible other notions for an upcoming project, my "bother's" Confederate general's uniform! Tickles me pink, it does. :) I'm still not entirely settled on what I'm going to use for the "chicken guts" on the sleeves. I don't want anything that looks cheap and "costumy"; it would ruin the effect. But anyway--there will be more on that project in the future.

Yesterday, I cleaned the chicken coop before breakfast. (That 45 minute buffer on the "dirt" detoxer leaves me open time slots sometimes.) The morning was spent doing a little straightening up and the afternoon saw the staggering fact that we organized our yards and yards and yards of material!!!!

You are allowed to die with shock.

That concluded with 1 box (all units are rubbermaid, just so you know) of 1 yard pieces, 1 box of 2 yard pieces, 1 box mostly full of 3 yard pieces, 1 box mostly full of 4 yard pieces, and 1 box crammed full of 5, 6, and 7 yard pieces. Then, of course, is the scrappy stuff which is supposed to be made into quilts, Katherine's box of fabric, my comforter bag of fabric, two small rubbermaids of doll material, one BIG rubbermaid with the material still on bolts in it. So yeah. We still have some material all over the place to join the mess of unfinished projects, un-started projects, and clothing items to be re-purposed. Oh, and perhaps a mending job or two.

We like fabric. Just in case you didn't know.

I was completely wiped out by the end of the day, but surprisingly, don't seem to badly off today. Which brings me to my next subject: a Racheal Health Update.

The week after Savannah got married, the following Wednesday to be exact, I started my new killer/detox regimen. I won't give any dates for the following, because that would be too precise for my taste (or memory)...

Anyway, I have been having, get this, E-N-E-R-G-Y!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My brain may not still be working at capacity, but I have been able to move, energetically--all day long (or mostly all day long) in a way that I haven't for quite a long time. Gee. ONE DROP of that fungal killer is doing this to me?? (And I'm not kidding, most days it is only one drop, not two.) I had some headaches when I first went on it, but since leveling out on one drop, I haven't. I wonder how it'll do with two drops. Maybe I'll attempt two next week.....maybe. I like feeling good. :D

Evidence that my brain still isn't fully functioning...I forgot what else I was going to say. 

However, I probably should mosey off of here (coffee's gone) and get to my Thursday baking. I have to go get some rhubarb for pies...and I'll double check with Mom on what else she wants or does not want made. Either way, I'll try to get US some bread made. We have enough eggs now that it's not a strain on our breakfast to whip up some breads.

​Thursday: COOKING. 

On Thursday, Abigail and Grace K. came down--they spent the majority of the day over at the church helping with the decorations while I baked chicken and later potatoes and carrots. My knee was sooo sore from squatting down every fifteen minutes to turn and baste the chicken. So much so that I ended up wrapping it for the wedding. (I damaged that right knee several years ago.)
 
My Aunt Terry also flew in that night--but after I went to bed, so I didn't see her until the next morning.

Oh...and I nearly forgot! My bees arrived! So I got them installed into the hives before lunch.

Friday: SO MUCH STUFF

Finishing up cooking, decorating, etc. Katherine baked the wedding cake and afterwards I popped in carrots and potatoes. It took forever for the first batch of carrots and potatoes to cook because the oven does not like the temperature to be changed.....I burnt half of the second batch because I thought I turned both ovens off before I went to bed, but I only turned the top one off. *rolls eyes* Hey, give me a break--it was 1:30-2:00 am!!

Anyway, several persons of our "house party" spent most of the day over at the church again. Aunt Terry, who played the organ for the wedding went over to make sure she got some practice. 

Someplace during the afternoon, I was peeping out the window and noticed this green car slowing down and pulling in. I went out, not sure who it was--and then I yelped, "It's Erik!!!!" (And then I remembered that car from before. :D)

Just in case you don't know--Erik was Savannah's first suitor. It didn't "work", but ended with a lasting, family-wide friendship. Erik, indeed, is the first and eldest of our adopted brothers. The beautiful happy lady next to him is his wife of two years--Allie. She's also now officially family. What a gal! :) We'll visit with them a little more here in a paragraph or so....

Sometime in along in here, the R brothers' also arrived, but they went straight to the church, so I really have no idea when they showed up. 

The rehearsal was supposed to be at 5:30, but I think it came off a little later. :D I *think* it went off well, but I've never been to a wedding rehearsal before, so I don't know. I don't have any pictures of that--or after when we were at the rehearsal dinner--but that was fun. Within earshot and with whom conversation was engaged with was, clockwise: Erik, Allie, Grace, Me, Abigail, Aunt Terry, Dan, Andy, and Katherine. I'm not quite sure of the rest of the seating waay up the table...
 
The conversation ranged from firearms (I think that was Dan and I mostly :D), music, history, family stories, reenacting, to coffee vs. tea (or both!)...and whatever. After laughing ourselves silly, various persons drifted away to hotels and our house. The House Party was all of us, Aunt Terry, Abigail and Grace, Erik and Allie, and Dan and Andy. I actually rode home with Dan and Andy--thanks to them tossing Andy's guitar (!!) and the suitcase in the bed of the pick-up. I expected to ride in the back of the cab, but I got to ride shotgun instead. :) Night air, music blaring, and brothers. :) It was a good ride...even with the wet, cool air-induced coughing fit. :D 

Anyway, when the House Party arrived, I went pretty much straight into pin-curling my hair. I think I got it up in record time...

In the meantime, Andy pulled out his guitar and jammed away. In my own opinion, I think he kept us all going. :D Before I got back into the kitchen, the rest of the the party started shredding cabbage, making salads, slicing ham, washing dishes, etc. It was so...awesome. It's what family is supposed to be like. Music, laughter, singing, talking, cooking--all way into the night. Or rather, into Saturday morning.  We finally all either, left to go to a hotel or crawl into bed, at about 1:30. I think I only got about two hours of sleep, so I did pretty decently the day after.

Saturday: THE WEDDING

Well, before we got there, we ate breakfast, goofed a little bit, and then rolled into last minute "stuff". That 'goofed a little bit' included a minor jam session of two guitarist (Andy and I).

Abigail and Savannah  went over earlier than anyone else while the rest of us concentrated on having coffee, tea, and breakfast....

At some point, I had to jump into the car and run into town to to pick-up Grandpa's suit from the cleaners. I drove WAY faster than I usually do....the three cups of strong coffee  I had had didn't help that race any. 

When I got back I kept right on running. We finally got out at almost 1:15 (we were supposed to be at the church at 11:30!), I think, and I RAN some more, rushing stuff in from the car...

​I finally managed to get around to getting into my bridesmaid dress, hurrying my make-up job, and taking my hair out of the "dew-rag" and un-pinning it. I was responsible for Scott's ring, so I stuffed it onto my thumb. Hannah, our photographer (and friend!) was in and out taking pictures. I think we all looked nice--I might have even attained what I was aiming at when I told Hannah's mom the night before, "I will try to look beautiful..." and then nearly fell out of my chair as I spoke! :D (I was leaning off to the side, in that half-dumb fake-confidential style that I have fun with from time to time.) Believe me, people were laughing...........

No matter what, I felt like I looked pretty, even though I was HOT (I mean temperature-wise!!!) when I got changed. It took me a while to cool down after all that sprinting up and down stairs.

Now, I know you are DYING to see the bride's dress:

Anyway, the ceremony was not overly long--but it was nice. Musically, Andy sang "O God Beyond All Praising"...the S's sang Psalm 46 in harmony...and there was the congregational hymn "All Creatures of Our God and King". I faked most of it, but kept my lips moving so I looked like I knew all the words! :D

The Pastor's message was not long but it was good (though please don't ask me to repeat any of it--remember, I only had two hours of sleep Saturday morning)...I had my camera set up in the balcony, so I'll be able to hear it again. :) Vows and rings were exchanged...and IT WAS DONE. 

Sorry I haven't any more pictures at this point...but I hope to put some more up eventually when Hannah gets done processing them.

However, during the wedding, our friend Ruth had a seizure! I had no idea what was going on and I did not look. If I had, I probably would have dropped my armload of flowers and charged over just like Mom and Dad and Erik and Beth (my cousin who is a nurse). At any rate, later I was able to go to GeeGee (Ruth's mom) and hold on to her until Mrs. M took her to the hospital where Ruth was being taken. I couldn't do anything else. Poor GeeGee was fighting tears and I knew that I had better not start bawling or she really wouldn't be able to hold it together, so I just kept my arm around her shoulder and said whatever that fell out of my mouth. I feel, while sad that Ruth had to be ill, that I was yet honored to be the family representative there at that moment. I just love both of them...

I bounced between the upstairs and the downstairs talking until it was time for pictures.

After pictures, Dan on his fiddle and Andy on the bodhran led the wedding party down into the fellowship hall. I really should have been directly behind Savannah, but because I was filming it, I followed on the very end, behind the groomsmen. Whenever I get the videos off the camera, I may get around to getting them on here....(and for my filmmaking friends, I think that I probably got the smoothest walking shot I have ever managed! I wonder if wearing heels helped??)

I tell you...the guests were so good about helping clean up. Though really, I think Miss K (remember this sweetheart?) and Allie did more than their fair share of the dish-washing! 

Between us, Miss K, the R's, the K's, and Erik and Allie, the rest of the clean up was executed pretty snappily. I was really starting to droop, so I'm afraid I was not in an awful lot of help.

It was told us that the relatives were coming over and I warned the brothers--knowing it would be a long evening and that they would be getting a little wound up. :D

Anyway, I hope they didn't think us rude, but Katherine and I spent the majority of our time out in the back room playing music. Dan looked about dead, though he did perk up for a bit once he got his fiddle out--after "fiddling" around on my cello. By the way--I think I've found my new "jam with R's" instrument--the cello. I can just find the drone note.........

At about two o'clock, I decided that I had better go to bed, so I went around and told everyone "Good-night", took a shower, and slipped upstairs.

I woke up at about 7 and snuck around trying to let everyone sleep while I readied things to go to church. I think Mom got the fellas and Katherine up around 8:45--giving them 30 minutes to get up, dressed, fed, packed, and out the door. We all swung it more or less. 

I ended up crying on and off all through the first service; I was just exhausted and the whole everything just caught up with me. I considered getting up and going to the bathroom and actually bawling, but I kept my seat and tried to be quiet. As the final hymn was being sung, I leaned over to Katherine and whispered to her to please get me a cup of coffee as soon as the service ended--which being an absolute doll, she did. It helped and I was able to smile sheepishly and semi-engage in conversation while wondering how red and puffy my eyes looked...It's very odd, but crying in public is not nearly as humiliating as I once would have thought it. Or maybe it's just because the people I was crying around are trustworthy?

Oh well, enough waxing philosophical about tears.

Savannah and Scott didn't make it to the first service (naughty young un's ;D) but they showed for lunch and the second service--only they didn't eat lunch since they had just had "breakfast". I had remembered to bring the camera.....

The R brother's left after lunch so they could get home in time for Andy to tickle the keys for their church's evening service. Glad to say, they got home safely! 

Savannah and Scott hit the road after the second service:

Erik and Allie likewise left--but to come to our place to see Mama and Daddy a little more before they left. So...while we got pictures with them before they drove off--we got to see them again at home as they ate supper with us!

My cousin spent Sunday night with us and Daddy took her to the airport about mid-afternoon Monday so she could catch her 5:30 flight. It was good to see her, even if I didn't spend a huge amount of time with her.

Monday, Robert and Lessie came to spend the day. :) They brought Mama a present....

While we would go out for supper, we fed them lunch...

Like I said, we went out for supper. We went to Red Lobster and I ate and ate. Scallops. :) Anyway, I ended up dopey. Hardly surprising, really. 

They came over for breakfast this morning before hitting the road again.

And now we have clean-up, re-organization to do, and I need to get the wedding videos off my camera. At present, I think every female in the house is just vegging in front of a computer. Daddy just got back from taking Grandpa to a doctor's appointment. And I'm not sure that I don't have a little meningitis prodding me in the neck. Bah. 

It was just wonderful and awesome to see so many people... :) 

Have a great Tuesday, y'all! I'm just relaxin' today...

Busyness has defined this week. I cannot remember what I did on Monday--other than dishes--and singing for 45 minutes at the top of my lungs. No one else was home, that's how come I got away with that. ;)

Yesterday saw a whole slew of things being done: Mom got the Tandoori chicken marinating, I peeled 12 pounds of carrots and stuffed them in ziploc bags and jammed them back into the fridge. I washed dishes once or twice (or more). I did laundry; a little abstract "straightening" in the living room. I ironed both mine and Katherine's bridesmaid dresses (THAT's what I did on Monday--I stitched up the sashes!) I cooked two meals. I cleaned the bathroom (I just realized I forgot to scrub the floor........) I baked some bacon and managed to burn some of it. 

I readied my beehives--I thought the buzzers should be arriving today, but it looks like probably Thursday.

I was in and out of the house several time and actually spent some time in the bright sunshine and wind--and farm chemicals.

Now, I know better than to dance around in herbicides and insecticides. I got a whiff of "something" at some point while in the middle of messing with my hive and just kept right on doing whatever it was I was doing. I was literally in and out of the house all day and Savannah says 'everyone was spraying' yesterday though I only saw one--the jerk who really should have only sprayed Helen's field (right next to ours). However, he did our field as well (couldn't he see the boundary??)...and he was real sloppy about it too. Davy is always very respectful around our property, but this guy wasn't. I was kinda hoppin' indignant, but none of us wanted to go out into the spray and give the dope a piece of their mind. (Daddy was up state under a dentist's fist at the time.) Well, Mom had had the windows open some and they didn't get closed immediately. Even closed up though, some of that stuff still seeps through the cracks.

I kind of feel bad about not going out and trying to get that guy to cut it out, spraying our land and all, for two reasons: 1) we already have corn planted and I suppose it's quite possible that whatever he was spraying, which would be for beans, may damage our crop--or kill it completely and 2) he wasted his employers money! But I didn't want to go out--but I guess I might have well as gone out, I got sick from it anyway!! 

That explains why I've spent the last couple of hours in my chair in the living room, vaguely paying attention to the cleaning Mum is doing in the next room. I have done a little laundry today as well as dishes--and I DID get the roasters washed this morning and I made lunch! So, I guess I haven't been one-hundred percent useless. Still, I don't feel good and I have the random aches and pains in addition to the meningitis. 

I hope I feel A LOT better in the morning because Abigail and Grace come in tomorrow as well as Aunt Terry. 

It's been a while since I actually posted anything, hasn't it? So...updates!!

#1: Savannah is getting MARRIED!!

His name is Scott (and I'll skip the last name 'cause that's just what I do) and he lives in Florida. :) He came up recently and it was "made official" (even though it was anyway) and the date is set, April 30. 

#2: The kitchen is getting remodeled. At last. :) I regret me that I have no pictures handy for you, but this is the cumulative amount done so far--the new counter tops (butcher-block) are down along with the installation of the new (old, but refurbished) farmhouse sink (it is awesome!) In addition, we now have a dishwasher! AND most excitingly--the carpet has come up. Not that it "came up" all on it's own, but Daddy and Mama got it out. I stayed away as much as possible as the first day ended up aggravating my lungs and stuff so badly that Mom "ordered" me to bed the following day. (I really was hacking and wheezing.)

#3: I've been sewing (see #1). We've attempted three different styles for bridesmaid dresses and this last one is going to do the trick, we think. I actually just made the bodice rather than the entire dress, but it worked so nicely that I turned it into a wearable shirt (in fact, that is what I wore today!)

#4: We had the delight of visiting with two of our 'brothers' over lunch...

It's always a joy to see these guys (and Caleb, who wasn't able to make it). They were exhausted because they had stayed up much to0 late due to a gig they played the night before! I wondered if Dan was going to drop off to sleep a time or two...(shoulda had a black coffee instead of a tea, brother...) Ah well. Teasing aside, I look forward to seeing them again at the end of April... :)

#5: We are supposed to be playing in our church's recital here in a couple of weeks--but I suspect all three of us girls need to practice a little harder. :D I haven't played as much this past week as I did the week before...perhaps next week I will get back into playing every day again.

#6: I FINALLY took my birthday present from two years ago out a few days ago...

She shoots nice--and for some reason I decided to call her "Jenny". Daddy rigged up the holster on a cross-chest strap...so I carry it backwards for my shooting hand. Essentially, I cross-draw with the off-hand and then cock her with my shooting hand. My best group was about 2 inches across (I guess I was standing between 8-10 feet away?) Most of them (though I only shot three cylinders) were more like six or so...call that gun-handler error. With the steel case ammo, I had to removed the cylinder and knock the shells out with a cleaning rod. Daddy told me that I probably wouldn't have the problem with brass case. Definitely need more practice with the beefy "Jenny", but so far I can say that I like it. :) (No doubt about it...I like a handful of a revolver.)

Church tomorrow...adios for now!

Um...anyway. Since my aunt was here yesterday, we did our family Christmas today...

I think I'll do this in a picture gallery collection kind of thingy with random stories to go along with it.

Yesterday was a rather different sort of Christmas, with Grandpa being slightly grouchy. I think this is my favorite photo of him from the day:

We ate and acted rather silly before delving into the small pile of "Christmas" as Grandma would put it...so first, the sillies:

Then...the presents and such. Nothing spectacular, but everyone enjoyed themselves well enough, except for Grandpa...who was asleep with the remains of his breakfast in his hands.

Afterwards we ate lunch/dinner. I guess it was the double dosage of my parasite killer that put me on the verge of on the verge of passing out.

Okay...move on today, since it's a little fresher in my mind...

We started out with breakfast (how original!)...really late and maybe five minutes sooner than we might have because I was fixing to dissolve. I have a way of doing that when my innards begin to rebel against their emptiness.

After I washed the breakfast dishes, we congregated in the living room and began the usual routine of having Katherine pass each gift out (she tries to be really fair about it all, one for Daddy...one for Mommy...one for Savannah...you get the idea) and then we all watch expectantly...and make dumb remarks while watching. Then, of course, there are plenty of, "I forgot what I put in that box...come on! Hurry up! What is it?" ;)

But before that actually began, I have a little tale to tell...I got a Christmas card in the mail...with a little letter in it. This is how it was signed:

Now before you start squalling at me about holding out on you...and the quality of my "boyfriend"s handwriting, let me explain that Bob is 94. You remember this guy (on the left), right? 

Anyway...I shipped him and Johnny off Christmas cards this year and Bob sent me one in return along with a sweet little note. USS Hornet vets, both of them. :)

See, kissing 90+ year old vets has some serious perks. ;) But you know, if I can help brighten his day, I'm glad. Now...I just need to make more of an effort to go see my 93 year old man daily!! (*Points finger at own face: "Ya hear that, Rooster?")

I'll stumble back into the pictures here...they aren't exactly in order being from three different cameras...and I seem to have missed a couple that I thought I had in here...but oh well. The "odd" pictures with Daddy's guitar are from Mama's treasure hunt. :)

Sometime in here we ate lunch...gave the cat a bath (vinegar and water in an attempt to quell the poor things itchy sessions--fleas, you know)...flipped the breaker a couple of times (too many heaters running in the apartment)...you know, normal stuff. 

After we got the mess cleaned up, we settled in to watch "The Return to the Hiding Place" a family gift that I splurged on, along with "Princess Cut" and "Alone, Yet Not Alone"...I look forward to seeing those too, but I have to say that I really enjoyed RttHP. It was very well done and the message was strong and clear. Best line in the movie: "My allegiance is with the King of HEAVEN!!"

In a nutshell then--our Christmas. Odd...but in the end, good.

Merry Christmas! See you next week. 

I was setting the table for lunch when I noticed a sheet of paper on my desk that hadn't been there earlier. You might ask me how I knew it wasn't there earlier when my desk is covered in a variety of papers...but that's doesn't really go with this story. Anyway, the headline caught my eye.

No arrests made in triple murder near Lakeport

Shamefully, I don't really know exactly where Lakeport is located, but I've done enough poking around in Florida history for the past five years that I immediately recognized the name. I picked up the paper and suddenly realized that it was a newspaper article from 1933.  I wondered why Daddy (for it was he) had put the article on my desk, so I sat down and read it. 

The first two paragraphs tell of three men, all between the ages of 27 and 28, one of whom was named Lincoln Widden (the Widden's were Confederate, so his  parent's obviously had a little Yankee brainwashing or it was a family name--'scuse the commentary), who were murdered...probably by more than one person since the weapons used in the murder were clearly identified as a shotgun, pistol, and high powered rifle. All things those Florida cattlemen would have been carrying for protection against wild animals--of all sorts. (Florida was still a rough place.)

So I kept reading...and the third paragraph suddenly blared my great-grandfather's name in my face. Oh. 

The elder brother of one of the murdered men had been similarly ambushed and wounded three years prior...and had accused my great-grandfather of the deed. Senior was arrested but later released after he put forth a perfect alibi and was not indicted.

I had heard of the murder accusation before, but I'd never seen it in print. Which brings up the following  thoughts.

My great-granddad died when Granddaddy was only three, so he never really knew him. It's kind of hard to access what kind of a man he really was, but there are two opinions on the man--two very stark contrasts. People either loved him--or hated his guts...decades after his death.

Daddy tells a story of when he was a teenager, a little old lady came across the street while he was mowing, and gave him a piece of her mind about his granddaddy.

Savannah met a man a couple years ago who told her a tale of how great-granddaddy saved his granddaddy's life during the depression. That family loves the memory of a man who remains a mystery to me.

Naturally, as he is my ancestor, I like to think the better of him. I know that the Methodist church down there has my granddad and his sister's names in the windows--paid for my their father. He is said to be one of the deputized men who took down the Ashley Gang (I forget what they were guilty of). 

On the one hand you hear stories of his compassion...on the other of his cattle baron orneriness of running his cattle through town purposefully after they told him to circuit them around to the rail-head.

Now, I know that the truth probably lays somewhere's down the middle. He was a man. Probably for the most part a good man--but likely with a streak of alligator. 

Was he an actual believer? I have no idea. I'd like to believe that I'll someday meet my great-granddad in heaven. But anyway, the rough, tumultuous history of my dad's side of the family just stands to prove that God can pull any kind of family out of the blackness and bring them into the light of the Gospel.

Uncle Hooker is said to have hung a man from a wagon tongue for killing a beef during the depression. The man was hungry. 

There is at least one woodscolt in the family tree and I suspect that the rumor that a certain member up the line died of an botched abortion is true. So, I guess the question remains--was my great-grandfather a murderer? Or at least, an attempted-murderer?

It's humbling, one's beginnings...for without the flawed people before us we would never exist. It's also very fascinating. Someday I may decide to write a semi-biographical tale concerning several generations of pioneers, soldiers, and cattlemen...I don't know if I'm big enough for the task, but it sure would be an intriguing research project if nothing else........