Sad News

I received a call last night that the branch store manager's daughter passed away yesterday. So sad. I saw her last at a memorial service for my boss' husband. She was diagnosed with lung cancer that spread to her brain and spine. lived a year after the diagnosis. I think of the Easter song, "The strife is oer, the battle done..." Such a difficult time for the family. I am working at the branch store today. Had a difficult time getting here as there is construction on the route, and many other cars were on the alternate route. Because I was fortunate and many of the traffic lights were green, I made it to work with a minute to spare. Trying to figure out the best way to get home. The skies are grey and overcast, even shed a few drops of rain, as tears for the branch store manager and her family.

Birthday Surprise Was A Success!

Everone made it to Amish Acres to celebrate my husband and their Dad's 70th birthday. We did it in spite of having to work extra hours and getting caught behind a combine on country roads. He didn't figure out the destination until we got off the expressway and headed south, and even then he said, "I'll let you know if I figured it out." We gathered to eat around 7pm or so and then walked over to the red round theater to see "Smoke on the Mountain." The next day we toured the farm. The first time I visited the resort, the wagon was pulled by Clydedales. This time by a green tractor. We walked around the farm, stopping to visit a one room schoolhouse. We made friends with two piglets, a donkey, two billy goat kids, several peacocks, turkey and turkey hens. Also went on a historic tour of the farmhouses built in the 1900s. My husband especially enjoyed the farm property and said that he will always remember his 70th birthday. We ate pizza and then hit the road with the sun shining and the trees a blaze of reds, yellows and oranges. Happy happy 70th birthday!

Husband hasn't discovered the birthday surprise!

As you know, (but my husband doesn't), our eldest daughter flies in tomorrow morning to be here for her father's 70th bday. He'll probably say, "What are you doing here!" And then on Friday afternoon and evening, the entire family (except for our daughter's boyfriend) gather to celebrate a birthday dinner and show. And my husband has not figured it out! Thankfully, the inn does not charge us til we arrive. And no one has let it slip. My husband has been questioning my father and our son, but their lips are sealed. Now my husband is highly intuitive in matters regarding himself, figured out that we were getting him a bowling ball for Dad's day and when I asked him "Guess what I found today," he honed right in that I had found his folding knife. But this time, at least until we take off down the expressway, he does not KNOW. How sweet it is!

Needs More Help

My mother's Sunday aide quit. I went to the house after work so that my dad could run some errands and go to church. He had roasted some beef and potatoes, and cut up some cauliflower. I served my mother her dinner (she likes to eat at the same time every day) and set the oven on low to keep my dad's meal hot. He did not have any beef gravy, so my husband drove to the rescue. Fortunately, I had purchased several cans to take with us on our camping trip. My mother and I watched golf and 22 year old Jordan Spieth win the FedEx tournament. My dad told me he needs more help. I am waiting for him to analyze and determine what he needs. My sister and niece offered to help out, but I dont' know if it will be enough. My former sister in law is coming to visit tonight. She is bringing chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy. I haven't see her in ages so it will be fun to catch up!

Let the Birthday Celebration Begin!

Certainly 2 weeks out is not too soon to start my husband's 70th birthday celebration. It began yesterday with a trip to the car dealership to lease a new car. As my dad said, "What is a 70 year old doing running around in a 14 year old car?" So off to the car dealer to lease a 2016 Ford Escape. The car is sunset, the interior black and grey. It has features--a rear sensor, heated front seats, voice activation, eco boost. He can't wait to pick the car up today and surprise the guys at work. He still doesn't know that our eldest daughter is flying in on Oct 8th. I suggested that he get the afternoon of Oct 9 and the day of his birthday, Oct 10 off. I accidently let slip that we were going on a trip because he tricked me! He said, "I hope we are not going on a trip to Alaska." I did okay for half a minute and then thoughtlessly told him. "No, our trip..." Stopped, but now he knows that there is a trip in the works, but is mulling over what the trip could be.

13 Generations

My niece spent many hours researching the full names and birth dates of relatives on my dad's side of the family to make a family tree for the reunion on Sunday. I received an email requesting the birth years of 20 or so relatives. It was an all-day project. I spoke with my cousin to find out birthdates of her siblings, children and grand children. Spoke to my Dad's cousin to fill in her husband's, children's and grandchildren's names and birthdates. My dad's brother's family was not available, so used the internet as much as possible. I am sure that some of the inormation is incorrect and that my cousin has a grandchild that I don't know about. However, we can correct and add information at the family reunion tomorrow. My dad's cousin's daughter traced back their family to the Mayflower. The family has been in the US for 13 generations. This is not true of my family. My paternal great great grandparents emmigrated from England in the mid 1800s, my paternal great grandmother came to this country from Sweden and my maternal great grandfather came to the US from Poland. Once here he took his middle name as his last name. Working with my family tree has clarified the information that I have English, Polish and Swedish ancestry, possible German too, although I have not found German ancestors. However, my husband's family is German, so my children have German, Polish, English and Swedish ancestors. My husband's ancestors changed the spelling of the last name several times, making it a challenge to work on geneology.

Harvest Moon Lunar Eclipse

I received an email from the Department of Natural Resources with details about the lunar eclipse on Sept 27/28. The message mentioned three state parks with optimum darkness to view the eclipse. The best time to see it is 10:10pm Eastern Standard Time. The parks are located far away. Been working on my father's family tree. I talked to my cousin and she gave me information about her family. Still have a call in to my dad's cousin and a cousin in Florida. Chipping away at the missing information bit by bit.