Genealogy

Well, I finally have something to blog about instead of being a lurker. I got this urge to finally pick up on research for my Sicilian heritage the last few days. I must have gone to five sites and spent the last two days on them. I actually took the plunge, which is hard for me to admit, and ask for help. I went to ItalianGenealogy.com and blabbed about how I've hit a standstill in searching. I was helped by "vj" who had an answer for every question.

VJ gave me the name of an Uncle living in Fremont which is an hour away so I called him. He didn't really have much new to tell me except we have relatives in Canada! That was such a weird call as my Dads family was divided when the last parent died. A dead uncle supposedly, and I believe he did, made a fake will and gave himself all the family property! He used my Dad as his "slave boy" (that's what I call it) on the ranch so his kids could go to college...My aunt used to say that our Grandma loved my Dad so much, because he was born three mos after his father died, and she would never leave him out of a will... Ok, well that's the family dirt! But my Dad got outta that situation with my Mom's insistence!!! HooHa!

VJ searched the Census and Death Indexes and made since of what I'd seen before but couldn't make the pieces fit. Most of it is related to BAD SPELLING ! It was exciting to see previous family names mentioned come together.

"VJ" even found the name of my Grandmother as well as her birth date and Immigration status. Now I should be able to find her name on the ship manifest among the zillion of immigrants.

It's hard to imagine but the manifest shows my grandfather came here with only $90.00 in his pocket ! Him, his wife and a baby! Oh, I'd surely faint over that one in this day and age. I know the search isn't over yet so back to the manifests...

Idaho ! Watch Out !!!

OK- just added this tidbit from CNN news

Are you worried about the California invasion? Well, click here.
(I'm not one of those people...snicker)

I clicked on Sandpoint and a few others. Most posts seemed to want to know where in Idaho to retire.

I stumbled on that site/forum while searching about the town where I grew up.
When you get to the main page you can either go to "forum" or search for a town. There you will see search or towns listed you can pick from. I'm not sure but it sounded like there may have been a few real estate agents putting in their two cents.
I'm almost temped to post all the negative stuff about Sandpoint...hummm, what would that be?

• smoke from the field burning,
  
• the huge snow storms and power outages
  
• the gravel roads,
  
• the new Biway ;)
  
• lack of culture
  
• just plain nothing to do.
  

All but the first one was a lie, well, maybe part of the second one. I love snow storms but not the loss of power.

Geocaching !!

This time I'm gonna do it !! Geocaching that is. If you don't know what it is here's a link.

I have bought the GPS (had it for a year+ now), my cache box is ready to hide, tons of SWAG (stuff you trade) and that's just the tip of the iceberg. There are PDA's and other goodies to download the locations but heck I can't even figure out the GPS. I need to get geekafied. Anyone who knows the Garmin Rino can chime in anytime.

I did get in touch with Marianne Loves hubby, he's offered to help me when I get back up to Cocolalla. I hate waiting...I won't be up until Feb 1st, currently working in California.

I'm hoping I can find some caches while canoeing this summer, too. I haven't researched that far but I imagine there must be a few caches close to the waters edge. Can you tell I'm having delusions of grandeur? "Arrgh matey, anchor down and get the map and we'll have a look fer that there treasure".


PinkAcorn

Can U Canoe?

<---- Not us, hee hee, but close.



Our newest gig is a search for a new canoe. As teenagers hubby and I went canoeing together ....once. That was on a local dam where the water was like a mirror. After a high school breakup Len and I didn't meet until 30 years later at a class reunion.

A little in between history: Len was into racing canoes and kayaks down level 5 rivers like the American, Russian (before it was dammed) and Sacramento. As for me: About 10 years ago I was on the American River , level 2, and our raft did a pancake going around a huge boulder. I had two of my kids on board. Thankfully they made it to shore but not me. I was rescued by a lone rafter who pulled me out of the rapids and steered us to safety. I know if it weren't for her I'd be a dead duck. Since that day I stay as far away from moving water as possible and that includes choppy and white caps on the lake.

I think we've finally narrowed down our choices to three canoes. They are all made by Old Town Canoe. There is a local dealer in town which is convenient.But, it doesn't end there. There's a zillion choices for paddles, life vests, fishing gear and oh yes, hubby wants an electric motor. Not to mention we want to take McKay, our dog, so that means gear for her. Yikes! It only took me six months to decide on tile for a back splash so I guess if I start now I should have all our gear by June.....

2006 a Year to Remember

As my last post for this past year I think it's only fitting to pay hommage to those we lost and moments that reflect the great wonders we are allowed to experience.

This link lists all deaths that occured in 2006.
As I looked through the long list I was so saddened by those who I recalled from my childhood. It makes our short time here on earth mean so much more.

Here's a list people and events that took place in 2006.

I have to must mention that my greatest moment in 2006 was the birth of my Granddaughter. Yes, I'm kinda stuck on Eva.

I wish you all a very Happy and Safe New Year.

Our Poochie, McKay

This is one of our pooches, McKay, she's an 11 year old Gordon Setter. She has been a great bird dog and friend. She poses well, too! For many years she hunted with the hubby for grouse, quail and pheasant. Now she's semi retired.


On another note...this past year has been quite productive for us. We have built a hay/horse barn, revamped the pond by planting native plants and flowers for the wildlife to enjoy, and "almost" finished the kitchen. The kitchen, no doubt, has been a real stickler. I have himmed and hawed over the backsplash tile for months and I have finally made a decision. Whoo hoo! I even found, after six months of searching, a company that I can order a stainless steel tambour from for the appliance garage. One of these days I will share the before and after photos of our place which we fondly call the "Love Shack."

BTW---I got my White Christmas !!!

Scrooge

While I thought coming back home to Cocolalla this trip would make a big change in my Bah Humbug Christmas attitude...I was wrong. First off the lights on the big tree outside are missing a section of lights, that really annoys me. If ya can't do it right don't do it at all. I came back to a horribly messy home. My hubby just can't seem to clean it "my way." I know that is my problem. You see, our home has been under construction for five years and it is not quite the Better Homes and Garden version of mountain living as I imagined.

While I am in California working hubby is here taking care of the animals and "remodeling." Well, it just ain't so. I know the three horses, three dogs, five parrots, five tortoises, building a horse barn and keeping the driveway clear, not to mention the rental property intact is a lot of work. By the time he's done with the animals he's too tired to do much remodeling. Our ranch is spread out so every thing associated with animals takes a lot of time and effort, plus hubby is not an organized person. BINGO, organization ! That is my problem, that he is not organized. You would think that it's not a big thing but it is. It affects every aspect of our life here. I hate taking an hour to find a flashlight that should..............

OK, hold everything. Guess what just pulled up in my driveway. My neighbor Bucky Roop, in his pick up truck with 10 neighbor hood children in the back... it's snowing and they are coming to sing The Twelve Days of Christmas. Now that's Christmas.....I have never had Carolers come to my home and sing, what a treat!!

OK, Scrooge signing off to go clean the house, no I didn't even mind the 10 drippy foot prints, and find something to bake.

My Love/Hate Affair with Christmas

Come on, I know there's more like me out there.

Round about November I'm all excited and have my list in place, asking who wants what.
I hate the response, " I don't know, get me whatever." There's also the Christmas music being played in all the shops during Thanksgiving-grrr.

By December 1st I've scratched through half my list and feeling smug.
By Dec 12th I'm in a panic because I've procrastinated thinking the last half of the list would be a breeze.

It's now Dec 14th and Christmas Spirit is fading. The only bright side is knowing I will get to see my Granddaughter soon and I've already done her shopping.
Bah Humbug side. I tell myself "I'll just shop online or go shopping when I get up to Idaho..

I have no tree set up in California since I'm only here to work. I decided to pull out my ole Douglas Fir talking tree!
After 5 minutes of it automatically turning on when I walked by I unpluged it- ACK !

I'm currently hoping Christmas will go away - rainey California weather does that to a soul.
I can't wait to get up to Cocolalla and hopefully see BIG SNOW !!!

Merry Humbug Christmas