Sunday, May 24, 2009

Another Busy Summer Ahead

This time last year, I listed all the activities I planned to do over summer break. I am not so sure that I will be able to do as many varied things, because I have already filled my calendar until August.

I am involved in not one, but two musicals this summer. "Honky Tonk Angels" features the music of the early girls of country: Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, and Dolly Parton, among others. Musically, it's not very complicated, but it's going to be fun. This is the country music I was raised on, so I know and like most of the songs already.

The second show, "Into the Woods," weaves the stories of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, and other fairy-tale characters together. The music is quite challenging, but the assembled cast has a great deal of talent, and we are all excited to see how it's going to turn out.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Building a Family Tree

Last week I "broke down" and purchased family tree making software. I figured that all my notes on little and loose sheets of paper needed to be contained in one area. Gee - why don't I use my computer for something like that?


I'm really excited to undertake the task of entering all of this sorted information about my family and ancestors. From ever so many names and dates to photos and fun facts like my 3x-Great-grandfather was born in Ireland and two of my grandfathers lived in Iowa.


Here are my three Ransom great-aunts taken in 1902. I love this photo. They are so adorable.



And for those who follow my Civil War character, Mrs Rosbrugh, or reenact with me on Oak Street, here is my 2x-great-grandmother, Katie Minora Foote Todd, who I've made into my character's Aunt Katie who died shortly after the Oak Street town fire.



I also have the wonderful opportunity of researching 3 lines (my father's and 2 of my mother's) as my mother was adopted (the grandparents I grew up with) but found her birth mother in 1992. I can now trace the blood line back with much information already found by my mother and her sisters.

Yea for computers and ancestors! I don't care about digging up black skeletons 'cause every family has 'em. But those people in my tree went through their life with happiness and struggles like all of us. Their course in life has formed the path down to where I was born. How exciting to connect with the past!

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Disneyland Roses


I know these aren't "our" roses - yet, but I was searching thru old photos and found this one I took in May 2007 while at Disneyland. These roses are beautiful!
So much so that we now have three plants of official Disneyland roses in our front flower beds and three more plants coming next week for the back patio. Yippie! Roses and Disneyland - both on my favorites list.