Ireland - 1979

"18 February 1979

Tra-la, tra-la, tra-la now I have done my duty as an American tourist in Ireland - I have been to Blarney Castle, and I did NOT kiss the Blarney Stone, so aren't I original?  Yes well, call it a acrophobia and a general lack of courage on my part!  I got an early train out of Killarney as the day was becoming more and more beautiful.  As it ended up, I shared a carriage with four other obnoxious Americans, who fortunately never figured out that I was an American too!

Had a beautiful view of the countryside coming out of Killarney - I'd like to go back sometime when the weather was better so I could do dome hiking and general scenery appreciation.

I walked to the Youth Hostel in Cork - about 1 1/2 miles from the city center - I was SO hot!  Today was like a spring day - lovely - I actually took off my long underwear and felt as though I'd lost 20 lbs.  J.G. showed up later and we went to see of all things, the movie "An Unmarried Woman" - I hadn't seen it before - thought it was good cuz I love Alan Bates - J. said this being Ireland it had been censored alot".    

London - Valentine's Day 2004

Paris has the reputation for being a romantic city, but London, in February 2004 had many signs of floral romance!

Flower display at Liberty's

Window Box

Window Box

Window Box

Primroses

Squirrel in the Daffs

Flowers at Liberty's

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

Here are two cards I'd like to share.

The first was sent to Janet McAdam in 1911,

the 2nd to James Waning pre-1936

Valentine to Janet McAdam - February 1911 - front

Valentine - 1911 Inside - Page 1

Valentine - 1911 - Inside - Page 2

Valentine - 1911 - from Roy Stachwick perhaps

Two months later Janet McAdam married Willard Lowe Waning!

Valentine - from Margaret to Jim - pre 1936 (front)

Valentine - from Margaret to Jim - per 1936 (inside)

Barbara's 70th Birthday Dinner

Last night we met at the Oregon Electric Station for a sit-down dinner to celebrate Barbara's 70th Birthday.

A long table was set for 18, lit with candles down the center. We had our "own" train car for our group which was fun.

The Birthday girl with her sisters Sandie & Connie.

Surrounded by her much taller grandsons Will & Matt!

More party guests.

A good time was had by all! Happy Birthday Mom!

Barbara's Birthday

Barbara - One Year Old

London - 2004

"11 February 2004 Wednesday

I am so far behind in writing this - that so far it will be a very historical membranes type of thing and probably very brief too.  We (Mom, Lex, and I) drove up to Seattle (Sea-Tac) on Tuesday night after work.  The weather was good for driving - no rain or fog - but it is a long drive - no way around that and Lexa ended up doing ALL the driving.

Wednesday was a lovely morning in the Seattle area.  We had great views of the Olympic Peninsula and Mount Rainier.  Actually got to the airport too early - somehow I had it in my head that our flight was at 12:15pm instead of 2:15pm.  Wed did the auto e-ticket check-in so early we had to go back later to check in our bags.  The United clerk played with our seats and have us the emergency row (more leg room) to Chicago and spread us out on the Chicago to London flight.  Flying to Chicago was no bother - lovely views of US and Canadian Rocky Mountains.  It was dark by the time we landed in O'Hara.  The date change was ultra-easy - we landed at C15 and walked to C16.  Our flight was delayed for about 15 minutes before we boarded - waiting for transferring passengers.  The plane then left the gate, only to return for 45 minutes as the passenger list and the luggage manifest had not been matched up.  So as it ended up we were over an hour late leaving. I watched "Intolerable Cruelty" on the flight to Chicago - on the London flight I watched "In America" - I'd heard about it on NPR - a tear-jerker that - a good movie!  After dinner I settled down to sleep and dozed on and off - a bit of a bumpy flight over the Atlantic.

12 Feb 2004 Thursday

By the time we woke for breakfast it was the 12th so Lexa and I wished Mom a Happy Birthday.  We landed at Heathrow and went through customs and immigration.  I even declared that I was bringing in canned salmon and was approved and passed on.  I got our 4 day Underground passes and we headed off on the Piccadilly line.  We changed to the Circle line and arrived at Victoria Station with alot of lugging suitcases up and down stairs which in itself was rather remarkable.

I'd printed out a map of the area and Lexa and I consulted it and walked straight to our Comfort Inn Hotel.  It appears from the outside to be a tiny building and the room is quite small but clear,  Mom took a shower and I washed up too.  About 2:00pm we headed out to the National Portrait Gallery.  We bought tickets to the Cecil Beaton exhibit.  That was quite a good show - divided into decades, it showcased his work from London socialites of the 1920's to Hollywood stars of the 40's and 50's to Royalty.  We also took a peak at the Schwepps's exhibit - women in portrait photography.

We walked all around Trafalgar Square in front of the National Gallery.  This area has changed alot in just one year and looks quite tourist and pedestrian friendly now.  There is a post office right near the NPG so we exchanged money there - the horrors of that!  The dollar has lost another 16 cents since I'd last looked and the British Pound was worth $1.97 - for all practical purposes it is now $2 to the Pound.  I still look at Pound prices and convert directly across to dollars when I should be doubling it instead.

I love this photo - Lex looks like she has a fountain of water coming out her ear!

In the evening Lexa and I took Mom out to dinner at the Harvard Bar and Grill in the Thistle Victoria Hotel - very nice - I think we were the only ones there not drinking - however our "still" bottled water was 3.25 pounds a bottle so we might was well have been drinking hard stuff!  I had a two course meal of fishy things - crab and fish rarebit, and Haddock on pasta.  Then it was off to bed.  I was very tired but still all time zone messed-up so I did not sleep very well."        
    

Winter Fun in Michigan

It's a really pretty day even though it's only 21 outside. Yesterday Tom and the kids worked on the pond out back and today they are skating on the benefits.

Actually Q is the only one actually on skates. Thought I'd share the pictures.

Can't help but think Gramps would chuckle at this.

Abby wasn't impressed by the skating, but was happy to be outside with everyone.

Hockey Man

These pics are from a previous jamboree, but I thought you might like to see them.

Q goes for the goal!

Janet McAdam - Montana 1911

Tom Mason, Lester Baker, and Janet McAdam

Bruffry Ranch above McLeod, MT - 1911

Janet McAdam was born 135 years ago - the 5th of February, 1875 in Westfield Township, Dodge County, MN.  About 1910 she left Minnesota to visit her brother Matthew McAdam, and there she stayed to teach, attend business school, and marry.

I cannot find Tom Mason in the 1910 census, but I did find Lester Baker.  He is listed as living in School District 23 in Sweet Grass County, MT - the 5 year old son of Ralph and Mammie Baker.

In the 1910 census Nettie McAdam is a 35 year old teacher living in School District 43 in Sweet Grass County, MT.  She is a boarder with Philip Crandall family.  The very next family listed in the census is that of Primus A Bruffry - owners of the ranch noted in the photograph!

Elsie Margaret Greenwell Upton

Elsie Greenwell Upton and her sister-in-law, Olivia Upton Adams about 1957 

Elsie was born in rural Damascus, Oregon (Clackamas County) on the 1st of February 1887.  We are all Oregonians through our connection to her and the Grimm / Greenwell families.  Elsie's father, Benjamin Franklin Greenwell, came out to Oregon from Indiana sometime before 1866.  On her maternal side, the family of Jacob and Jane Grimm arrived in Oregon in 1852.  Elsie's mother, Jerushia Grimm was six years old.  She walked from Ohio to Oregon!