Wordy Wednesday

 

Weekly Roll

very small hint about my valentine card

Linky Love

Lion Mountain Attack - I am late to share this. It happened in Colorado. I have driven by this trail head so many times. After hiking in the Pacific Northwest, I am most afraid of cougars.

 Inappropriate Thoughts

Tabithasewer mentioned how sad she is sad JoAnn's is gone. I share that sentiment as well.  You betcha in 2016 I was hitting JoAnn's. Nothing quite hits like the smell of JoAnn's despite my husband calling it the smell of crafty desperation.

Deep Thoughts

There were a lot of notable deaths this past week with Scott Adams. But also, a pioneer in the Civil Rights movement, Claudette Colvin who refused to give up her seat on the bus.  She was only 15 years old and gave up her seat 9 months before Rosa Parks. She died at 86.  Claudette is featured in Sharon McMahon's book, "The Small and Mighty". 

52 Ancestors - Records that add color/Genealogy Meeting Tale

The 52 ancestors in 52 weeks prompt was Records that Add Color.

 Well, I had picked out my own ancestor but then I went to genealogy meeting, and I thought I would share a tale I heard there. Oral history provides something that regular records don't. They bring color.

I meet once a month with other people who are researching their family history. We have our meetings at a local library. Well, this time the internet was down so we couldn't research because basically most of our research is done on the internet.  (this is really annoying) 

In walked a guy I am going to call Will.  He is a lifelong New Mexican.   He had been researching his family. Will had lost his dad when he was 8 and then his mother when he was 18.  He also suffered an injury in 2023 that made his memory not as reliable.  So, he was researching his family to put the pieces of memory and history back together. His family came from Otero County New Mexico.  This is near where the Lincoln County War happened and Billy the Kid and lots of stories of the wild west.

He asked me if I wanted to hear an old western story.  I am always up for a genealogy story. He said his Uncle Shorty was a purveyor of meat and also a teller of tales. Uncle Shorty had a very wide definition of meat could be beef, horse, chicken, or wild game. Well, Uncle Shorty was out of meat to sell. So, he went out in the hills basically poaching for meat.  He had a wagon of deer when he was caught by Fish and Game.  The Fish and Game agent was on a horse.  So, he ran but he got his revenge by shooting off the horn of the saddle. Will said his Uncle Shorty had a lot of stories many including this one which he didn't believe were true. However, years later when working a late shift at the refinery when guys spill yarns. He told this story, and it was confirmed by someone else to be true. A lot of family tales can't be proven true especially the more colorful ones, but Will got unofficial confirmation that his uncle's tale had kernel of truth.

Favorite Postcards 2025

 I received over 60 postcards last year!  I have them hanging EVERYWHERE! I have them on the refrigerator hanging as a banner in the oasis. 

I did have a few favorites and far too many to show but a few are below.

But more than the fronts of the cards, I enjoyed reading each post card.  Many of the post cards told me the places that I should visit.  They told me of places that were on their bucket travel list.  Many had visited New Mexico.  Post cards allow us to visit places through the mail.

I received post cards from all over the world

see below

Yearly Valentine Remailing PSA

My 2025 Valentine

Every year I come on to remind you to SEND GOOD MAIL and remind you that the deadlines to have your Valentine's remailed from Loveland, Colorado are coming up quick.  Loveland is celebrating its 80th year of remailing Valentine's all over the globe. Directions and deadlines below and can also be found here

Weekly Roll

 

first postcard received this year

Linky Love

Book Club Picks for Jan 2026 - I haven't started my book club book yet -true confession

Inappropriate Thoughts

I am pretty sure Google was watching me clean up Christmas the other day.  When I got it, all put way I still had trees hanging around. It of course recommended a product to me.  They are always listening.

I feel so seen! I probably misplace this as well.

Wordy Wednesday

 

I recently heard the lighthouse theory. The basics are we attract the right people when we just shine. We don't have to chase or rescue the people we need in our lives. 

Light House Theory