Christmas Tree Shelfie

Yes, I have a miniature tree shelfie problem.  I particularly like the glass ones. Wait, I like them all. Maybe that is my problem. Above is my above sink shelf.  Probably needs some twinkle lights.  The deer are antiques.  Not entirely sure how to make this pop better. 

Below is the open hutch is in my kitchen. I love my lighted houses. I filled that baby up with trees. I added battery powered lights.

Weekly Roll

 These are crack. If you are at Sam's these are delish.

Linky Love

Gen Z and Millennial Use Public Libraries More Than Previous Generations, Study Says 

I have announced many times how much I love the public library.  My library at my new location is great.

Best Tea for Energy: Top 7 Herbal boost Most Recommended By Experts - I am a winter tea drinker. 

Deep Thoughts

This from Becky Higgins has been bouncing around in my brain. THE PURPOSE OF THE TASK IS TO STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIP.   That resonates with me. 

52 Better Health Project - Week 3 &4

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.

week 3

I made it outside for 20 minutes of morning sun for 4/7 days. It was an act of COURAGE.  It was 28 flipping degrees one of the days. My husband got me rechargeable hand warmers. Where were those for all those band/football days? By the way, one of the days, the dogs refused to join me. These New Mexico hounds are smart.  They do like to be petted with the hand warmers. 

week 4

You can't change what you don't track. I decided to chart this challenge. 

There is nothing earth shattering what I am tracking. I take high blood pressure meds so I am trying to do better in taking them.

Wordy Wednesday

 

ALWAYS

Adult Arts and Crafts - Watercolor Blob Trees

 

This was fun and relaxing. These trees make me happy. This is another Andrea Nelson Art Project.

Weekly Roll

Photo by KGR

Linky Love

Pork and Cherry Rice Bowls - this was a little experimental cooking from Budgetbytes. This was okay. There were some substitutions and omissions because of my husband's food intolerances. I think doubling the sauce would have helped.

Virtual Cookie Exchange - This is a Modern Mrs Darcy Invention.  I had discovered some new recipes. Check it out. I would bring my cookie called The World's Best (chocolate chip/butterscotch)

Good Cheap Eats came up with an Advent Calendar Meal Plan - It is a bit genuis.

The Christmas Cookies You Should Bake Based on Your Zodiac Sign - mine is grinch cookies. I don't think I have ever had or made.

2023 Christmas Cookies Trends to Try This Year - Do you Remember No Bake Cereal Wreaths. I think I made these in Girl Scouts one year. Snickerdoodles are a must.

Red Tin Treats Ebook - I think I might splurge on this from Kelly Welk. Kelly runs a cottage kitchen and makes red tin treats.

Inappropriate Thoughts

It was a full moon last week and it showed.  People were a bit cray.  The washer died. We had just replaced the pump. Not what I wanted to do on Friday date night was go purchase and install a washer.  Luckily our Lowes 40 minutes away had the machine in stock. Literally put in the back of our Traverse. That thing can haul some stuff. It was quite the date. 

52 Ancestors - Ancestor I Would Like to Meet

This prompt has me overthinking. I have a couple of ancestors that I have a lot of questions I want to ask.  I don't know necessarily if I would have wanted to meet them in the flesh. This was the very first prompt of 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks in 2023.  I have hesitated to pin down an ancestor I wanted to meet. It might be more of an interrogation. I choose John Lendman

John Lendman was born in Austria, Dec. 27, 1839. In 1856 he came to America, landing in New Orleans. From there he went to Chicago, where he remained two years, then went to Freeport, Ill. Four years later he came to Clayton County and has been engaged in improving and selling farms here since. He now owns a fine farm of 210 acres in Sperry Township, of cultivated land and abundantly stocked. He was married in this county Dec. 29, 1865, to Anna Kerr, who was born in Ireland in 1842. Four children have been born to them, viz.: Anna Maria, Thomas K., Mary Jane and William John. In politics Mr. Lendman is a Republican.

source: History of Clayton County, Iowa, 1882, p. 1099

http://iagenweb.org/clayton/index.html

There is very little I can verify about John Lendman before he arrived in Iowa.  He has listed his birthplace has Austria, Graslide, Germany, and one child identified it as Bohemia. Germany was not a unified place when John was born. His brother Joseph was most likely born in Baden Germany. 

I cannot verify when he exactly came to the US and what ship or what port despite the article above saying New Orleans.

Here below is some of the verifiable information I have about John Lendman.

John Lendman was born to Therese and John "Wentzel/" Lendman on December 27, 1839.  He probably had 7 siblings. It appears he immigrated here with his parents and siblings.  I think they most likely arrived in the US around 1853 as his brother Fred was born in Iowa. I can only verify 4 siblings. However, in a census Therese indicates that she had 8 children.  John married Anna Kerr in 1865.  Ann Kerr died in 1886.  They had 4 children together.

Mrs John Lendman

Yesterday Morning at about four o'clock, occurred the death of Mrs John Lendman, at her home in Sperry township, after having suffered a long time from a cancer in the Stomach. Mrs L. was a native of Ireland and was nearly 45 years of age. She was married to Mr L, in 1865, and by him has had four children, all of whom we believer, are living. They have resided in Sperry township for nearly a quarter of a century, and she was highly respected by all who knew her, and her death will be greatly mourned. The funeral occurs tomorrow, Friday, at ten o'clock and her remains will be laid away in the Volga Cemetery. - newspaper clipping.

On July 12, 1889, he married Ida Shadwell (1863-1937).  Their marriage was announced in the local paper. 

John Lendman of our prosperous farms was married last Friday, July 12th, 1889, to a young la

dy of this township. Rev Seifert performed the ceremony in the presence of over fifty invited guests. All were served with an elegant dinner. - Elkrader Weekly Register July 1889 page 8

Ida came from Germany.  I think she was most likely from the same village/town that John was originally from. I cannot verify that information. They had 6 children together including my Great Grandfather Frank Rudolph Lendman.  On his death certificate, the occupation is listed as farmer. John died of heart disease and died in Grant County Indiana in 1914. John was 74.

Advent Practice - Reading the Gospel of Luke

 I have been reading through the book of Luke as an advent practice for many years. I started in 2021 writing the years I have read it. It is something I do before I go to bed.  There are 24 chapters in Luke. So, I start reading on December 1st. This year I spent a little time trying to find resources and commentary on Luke to enhance the experience.  This is something that needs to be overthought.  Just read the book of Luke. I think a study bible helps but even this isn't necessary.