Wordy Wednesday

 

Weekly Roll

Bat Wings

Carlsbad, NM

Linky Love

I think I have posted about the bat wings. I have been following Kelsey Montague Art for a while now on Instagram.  She is known for her butterfly wings. I loved getting a chance to visit the bat wings.

cranberry almond cake - budgetbytes - we had this as our Thanksgiving dessert.  This is budget friendly and easy to make.

Little Known Fact About Me

curtain lights in the hideout

dorm or festive?

I love Christmas Lights.  I am a light seeker both literally and figuratively. My favorite part of the Christmas season use to be the candlelight church service.  I am not currently a church goer.  Now I just love the sparkle of the season.

52 Better Health Project - Week 2

I turned 52 this year. There is also 52 weeks in a year. I decided I need to make better health choices. This is my accountability space. At least one day a week I am going to make a better health choice. Yes to 10,000 steps, better food choice, moving more. I am going to record it. I know boring but this is old age. I find I do better when I held accountable.

Probably not the best to start with a holiday.  I did eat a lot more fruits and veggies.  I didn't overdo! That is a win. I got one day of 20 minutes morning sun. It was 34 degrees out.

I usually write a post it note while I enjoy the sun. The dogs are never sure what I am up to.

Thanksgiving Linky Love

Surprise!  I thought I would give the people something to click on.  Maybe you are up making the fixings, maybe you aren't celebrating today, or maybe you just love linky love.

Flaco the Owl visits a couple - You totally come here for celebrity owl updates

Snoopdogg narrates animal planet (instagram)

Inappropriate Thoughts

Real talk here, Thanksgiving is better with a book and if I had my druthers it would happen in mountain cabin with a full library of books. You know the type of library that has a ladder. There were be unlimited hot drinks and snacks. 

Our Favorite Adventure Books for Every State - I have read Boys in the Boat for Washington State.  There are some really interesting books on this list. I think I am going to have to revisit. I haven't read the book for New Mexico but I will be especially since it is a banned book.

Here is a post about my favorite Armchair Adventure Reads. I need to update again.

TBR (to be Read) Adventure Book - Trail of The Lost - Kinda true crime too.

Little Known Fact About Me

My mother banned me from reading books during cleaning time. Rude!  Evidently, I was spending more time reading than cleaning. I was unmanageable as a child. I think my mom would be startled to know now I follow cleaning Instagrams too.  

Gocleanco

Wordy Wednesday - Tea Box Quote

 

I love that Celestial Tea boxes have quotes in them. This was from their peach tea.

Weekly Roll

Linky Love

Winter Woodland Animal Stamps - Pictured above - I think these are adorable stamps.

Floret Originals - Preview of Floret Originals

Walmart Sensory Hours - I think this is awesome.

Flaco the Owl May have Returned After Failed Attempt at Love - I know you come to just this blog for all celebrity animal information.

Marty the Moose Adventures in New Mexico  - more celebrity animal information

Little Known Fact About Me

I am a mini tree hoarder. I pretty sure I have a problem with collecting them. Those above are just the ones I purchased this year. 

Deep Thoughts

I don't have enough battery for that.

Last week, I was talking to my youngest about work and work cliques.  He said, "I don't have enough battery for that."  

That really resonated with me. This past week I literally took my birthday off.  I was feeling like I was running on empty. I am introvert and I have learned in my life I need less people sometimes.  It was really wonderful. I got a haircut. I wandered around hobby lobby.  I rode in my car by myself.  I am unpaid caregiver, so my client is always in my house. Sometimes it is a bit too close.  I love my people, but I crave space. My battery was low, so I took my birthday to re-charge it.

52 Better Health Project

I turned 52 this year. There is also 52 weeks in a year. I decided I need to make better health choices. This is my accountability space. At least one day a week I am going to make a better health choice. Yes to 10,000 steps, better food choice, moving more. I am going to record it. I know boring but this is old age. I find I do better when I held accountable.

Some of my goals are

10,000 steps

20 minutes of outdoor morning sun

limit caffeine

limit snacks

more fruit and vegetables

How did I do this week

1 day of 20 minutes of morning sun.  I am doing pretty good on the caffeine.  I had one day where I drank 3 cups of coffee and half of a coke.  But otherwise, I am doing well sticking to the 2 cup rule.

Fort Stanton

This past weekend for my Birthday, I wanted to visit Fort Stanton. I like to visit and explore new places. We had a busy fall so it was a good day to enjoy spending with my husband. I was exposed to Fort Stanton through a Ghost Adventures Season 2 episode 3.  

Prior to arriving at the fort, we stopped at the New Mexico States Veteran's Cemetery and Merchant Marine and Military Cemetary.  We visited on Veteran's Day.  We read a sign about putting coins on the graves. A penny means that you visited so I ran back to the car and got some coins.  We didn't understand at the time why there were so many Merchant Marine graves in southeast New Mexico. In 1899 a Merchant Marine hospital was established at Fort Stanton. 

Upon arriving at the fort, there was a fort docent in the courtyard/parade ground that asked if we wanted to help raise the flag.  We loved that he asked us as we are both veterans. The docent was also a veteran. It was truly a unique experience and honor. Since we both part of the flag detail. We didn't get a good picture.

More information about Fort Stanton - here

Catholic Chapel on Fort

Adult Arts and Crafts - Watercolor Fall Scene

 

This is another Andrea Nelson Art Project. I treated myself to a #8 round watercolor brush.  It was a big splurge at 4.99 from Hobby Lobby.  It makes a difference though. I did two paintings. It is a good creative exercise. 

Pumpkin Shelfie

Nope not ready to transform my dining room to Christmas.  I have these pumpkins on top of my China Cabinet.  The clock was my Grandma Marvel's. 

I also have fall on my kitchen sink display. I have my little November girl.  I think I got her from my Aunt Sharon a thousand years ago.

What I Read November

 I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit.  Check out what everyone else is reading.

Reading has been on the lighter side recently. 

Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

This was a book club selection. It was the book I didn't know I needed.  Adam is an organizational psychologist.  I love the stories he included about people who discovered their hidden potential especially later in life and how they unlocked it. My husband was on a work trip, and I made him download the audio book. I could of highlighted this entire book. This book I highly recommend.

Things I Wish I told My Mother

The ending of this book made me cry. I thought this was an enjoyable read about a mother and daughter who take a trip to Paris and Norway.  It has a little twist I didn't see coming.  

Weekly Roll

 Inappropriate Thoughts

Little known fact about me

Me and My AIT Drill Sergeant at Fort Jackson, SC

I was a 71L aka a highly trained killer typist in the Army. Don't all typists carry an M-16 and deploy a claymore? I served in the Army from 1990 - 1994.  I was more Private Benjamin and less GI Jane. I was part of HQ's 32nd AADCOM  (Darmstadt, Germany) and 11th Signal Battalion (Darmstadt, Germany) and HQ's 160th Battalion aka Night Stalkers (Fort Campbell, KY) and then I went into the National Guard for a year in Colorado. Post I did about 32nd AADCOM

I have no regrets joining the Army.  I learned a lot about myself. I grew up. I made mistakes and I made good friends.  It was an honor to serve. A lot that experience formed my beliefs about government both good and bad.

Unpopular Opinion

I don't mind growing old. Every year I turn older I think," Wow I made it another year. "

Dead People Files - Revolutionary Ancestors Part 2

In honor of Veteran's Day, I decided to highlight two of my Revolutionary ancestors. I have 2 ancestors on my Hoyt/Liston tree who Revolutionary War Soldiers. One I have written about before was Basil Prather but not his Revolutionary War service. Part 1 of my Revolutionary ancestors is here.

Rachel Gaither married Thomas W Prather. Rachel and Thomas Prather are my 5th Great Grandparents. Both of their fathers were Revolutionary War Soldiers.  Rachel's father, John Gaither was a captain of Montgomery County Maryland Militia. Thomas's father was Basil Prather who was part of the North Carolina Milita.  Basil and John are my 6th Great Grandfather. Below is some brief biographical information.

Interesting Fact

You have 128 -5th Great Grandparents.

You have 256 - 6th Great Grandparents

Captain John Gaither V1

 

Captain John Gaither was born in Anne Arundel County, Maryland in 1740 to John Gaither and Anne Ruley. John married Anne Jacobs who was born in 1740s also in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  They married most likely in 1761.  Their first child, Jeremiah Gaither was born 7 Sept 1762 in Maryland. 

John Gaither was a Lt of Flying Camp and Captain of Montgomery Co, Maryland Militia. He served as a Captain and Patriot. He was enlisted by Thomas Mayo.

**** I am having trouble proving this and even in DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) has a warning that this doesn't have collaborative information.  To make matters more complicated there are quite a few John Gaither's in the time period.

Basil William Prather

Basil Prather and his twin brother Baruch William Prather served during the Revolutionary War in the North Caroline Militia. Basil served in the Army as a Private under General Gates. He was in the Battle of Camden where he took a rifle ball to the knee on Aug 16, 1780. He was to limp the rest of his life. The Battle of Camden was a win for the British. General Gates troops were suffering from dysentery and this majorly depleted General Gates troops.  Over 2,000 Patriots died in this battle. More info about the Battle of Camden.

Basil was born in Maryland to Aaron and Jane Prather in Maryland and moved west after the war. Basil lived in several states eventually residing in Utica Township, Indiana near what is now Watson, Indiana. When Basil moved here Indiana was not a state but part of the Northwest Territory.  Basil died at age 79 - Oct 7, 1822.

*** Basil has a DAR record

Dead Files - Genealogy Conference Field Trip

I was lucky enough to attend a local Genealogy Conference in Roswell NM put on by the Wilson-Cobb Genealogy Research Library last Saturday. The Speaker was John A Sellers - "The Magic of Rabbit Holes".  It was "Alice in the Wonderland" themed.

I was lucky enough to visit the Wilson-Cobb the day before and meet some of their lovely volunteers and explore their collection.  I thought the event was well attended and held at the Roswell Museum event space.  I think there as around 60 attendees.  I will say the average age was around 75 so I felt in the minority.  However, it was privilege to spend the whole day learning about genealogy with people as passionate about the subject as myself. I just love the stories. 

One thing that stood out to me was when John Sellers said, "To be a good genealogist, you must be a good historian." John Sellers is a wonderful and knowledgeable speaker.  He left me wanting to dig into some more records.

I was hesitant at first to attend. I literally only knew 3 people who I met the day before. I am glad I got out of my comfort zone. I signed up and committed without knowing anyone. Genealogy conferences can connect you to others and also spur on your own research. 

Wordy Wednesday

 

I am a big Sharon McMahon(sharonsaysso) fan and belong to her book club. She is my go-to for current events and bi partisan information.

Weekly Roll

Linky Love

this has been a week so the linky love is low

DID YOU FALL BACK ????

7 Family History Activities When You Can't Focus

The Spookiest Airport - This cracked me up. I have flown out of DIA many times. I forgot that Blucifer's creator was killed by him. More info

Weird and Interesting Stuff About Me

November is my birthday month. So, I thought I would share weird and interesting stuff about myself. That sounded better in my head.  One of my micro-obsessions is Trailblazer basketball. I got into the Trailblazers thanks to my husband's grandfather, Pappy.  This season I have been doing a little art while watching them and the Bucks. This above is from my art journal.  

Before the Blazers, the most basketball I watched was cleaning Saturday morning and UNLV was the team aka The Running Rebels and Tark the Shark. I had to clean the basement family room and was allowed to watch tv while cleaning. The Running Rebels seemed to always be on the TV during my cleaning time. 

Stuff You Didn't Ask About but Here is My Opinion

Put up your Christmas Tree November 1 if you feel like it.  If it makes you feel happy, do it. Lots of Instagrammers are sharing that viral Home Depot Christmas Tree.  I don't get it, but I don't need to. Check out livinwithmb - she actually cracks me up.

Dead Files - DNA Test

 

I finally sent for a kit. I got a Labor Day deal.  I spit into the tube. It seemed like a lot of spit but was only 1/4 teaspoon. I mailed it on Sept 15. I got my results Oct 18th. Ancestry keeps you informed of every step. I thought it was pretty quick. Below is a quick snapshot of my results.

There was nothing terribly unexpected in my results.  What is interesting is that none of my Germanic, Europe side was found in my parental DNA.  Which was really interesting as I believed my father's side was more German than my mother's. I have a lot to learn.

Thrift Find and easy fall/harvest project

I wanted some autumn art.  I have a large open place over my electric piano that I try to fill with something. I got a large thrifted frame. It was in rough shape and because my husband does picture framing, I had an odd color mat that matched well.  I downloaded from etsy this pumpkin print and had it made into a poster at Walgreens.  I used a photo coupon.  Total project was $20.  When my husband's hand is better, I will actually have him cut the mat. 

The Turquoise Home talks about engineer prints for large prints.  I don't have a staples nearby.