It was dark and cold - 18 degrees (F) - when I got up and started my daily rounds this morning. My kits were not happy that the alarm went off earlier than usual, and while I was preparing to leave, Nedi was winding up into his loudest rendition of the feline Hallelujah chorus. Giving him a "special treat" for breakfast convinced him to be much more quiet, but I understand that he gave Beatrice a rousing vocal at 7 o'clock.
Victor and Xena were happy to see a little earlier than usual, and scampered out into the back yard like the big kids they are... It was still not yet full day, and the chickens decided not to leave the coop, so I had to go in and count nebs. I had put out fresh, warm water for them, and given them cracked corn and some fresh garbanzo beans. Then I gave the dogs their morning treats, and headed over to the Jack Russells'.
Nicodemus is a smaller, tri-color Jack, who recently lost an eye to an infection we couldn't get rid of. He was almost completely blind with cataracts at the age of 2, and he had surgery to remove those. He was fine for 5 years, but something scratched the lens of his eye while out playing at Coot Lake, and it just would not clear up, or heal up. The vet finally removed the eye two months ago. Emmitt is a larger, almost all white, Jack with a few tan spots on his ear. He's a rescue dog, having been kept in a cage in a basement for the first 5 years of his life. He didn't know what grass was, and it took several years for him to get used to all the sights and sounds he encounters in the house and outdoors. He's an extremely vigilant house protector, and barks at anything that moves in the yard or on the street. Thank goodness they live on a small cu-de-sac!
This evening I'll go visit Seek, a Spangled Bengal cat, and give her supper, love, and some playtime and grooming. Her Mom will return late Sunday night, so I'll make three visits, in all, to see her. She has a beautiful copper-colored coat with black swirls and dots - and huge green eyes... She's a sweetheart.
And, of course, I'll spend cuddle time with Lovey and Nedi today, too. - I've finished my Christmas shopping, and just picked up a gift from Rosie's parents/owners from Mike's Camera. I couldn't believe how wonderful and generous these folks are - They bought me a complete package of the Canon Rebel EOS T6, with the regular and the zoom lens, care and protective items, and $300 worth of coupons for free photos, classes, and all sorts of things...
For all of you who are my friends, I am very blessed to know all of you...
May Christmas bring you peace, joy, and great happiness!
Saturday, December 24, 2016
Friday, December 23, 2016
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Genealogy and History
Genealogy is a great way to start an interest in history - in following my family tree, I've noted several incidents that ancestors were involved in, which made me want to learn more... I grew up considering myself to be a Southerner in the United States. Mom was from Virginia, Dad was born in Oklahoma and spent the majority of his youth in Kansas. I was born in Virginia, and grew up in Virginia, Tennessee, Texas, and Florida.
I was extremely surprised to learn that Chincoteague Island, Mom's Virginia hometown, declared for the Union (not the Confederacy), and while people fought for both sides, Chincoteague was a Northern ally. So I read a great deal about the agricultural and seafood economies of Accomack County, and came away with a much better understanding of why the citizens decided to support the Union, rather than the South. I had no idea that the Eastern Shore was not a part of the Confederacy - I was never taught that, nor did I ever see it mentioned in my history texts at school and college.
Digging nuggets of information along family branches, I found that a great-grandfather (many generations ago) was hung for his part in Bacon's Rebellion at Jamestown in Virginia... So I read up on that bit of history.
I've found that one of my great-great-grandfathers was a part of the jury that found abolitionist John Brown and his sons guilty in absentia for the Pottawatomie Massacre. That relative went on to be burned out during the Civil War, and became a Justice of the Peace and a Judge in Missouri. At the same time, the great-great-grand Uncle of my sister's husband was one of the seven men supplying John Brown and his abolitionist followers with money and firearms that led to Harper's Ferry. Jim's great Uncle somehow avoided trial and conviction, while many others did not.
An ancestor supported Lord Calvert of Maryland in the only English Civil War battle that occurred in the American colonies, was caught and sentenced to prison. He escaped, left the main land, and settled in Accomack County, Virginia, where he prospered. Another ancestor, a Cleveland, was imprisoned during the British Commonwealth period, for writing "scurrilous verses" about Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell. The ancestor was incarcerated in the Clink Prison for six months.
Ancestors and relatives of my parents fought in the Civil War, the War of 1812, multiple Indian Wars, the Revolutionary War, and I've traced a few who fought in the Wars of the Roses in England, the Crusades, and even a couple of battles that contained warlords and troops of Roman Legions... Right now, I'm reading about the Roman Empire, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, and the beginning of Charlemagne's Frankish Empire that became the Holy Roman Empire. It's fascinating stuff - especially when you realize that someone you're related to lived though it.
I was extremely surprised to learn that Chincoteague Island, Mom's Virginia hometown, declared for the Union (not the Confederacy), and while people fought for both sides, Chincoteague was a Northern ally. So I read a great deal about the agricultural and seafood economies of Accomack County, and came away with a much better understanding of why the citizens decided to support the Union, rather than the South. I had no idea that the Eastern Shore was not a part of the Confederacy - I was never taught that, nor did I ever see it mentioned in my history texts at school and college.
Digging nuggets of information along family branches, I found that a great-grandfather (many generations ago) was hung for his part in Bacon's Rebellion at Jamestown in Virginia... So I read up on that bit of history.
I've found that one of my great-great-grandfathers was a part of the jury that found abolitionist John Brown and his sons guilty in absentia for the Pottawatomie Massacre. That relative went on to be burned out during the Civil War, and became a Justice of the Peace and a Judge in Missouri. At the same time, the great-great-grand Uncle of my sister's husband was one of the seven men supplying John Brown and his abolitionist followers with money and firearms that led to Harper's Ferry. Jim's great Uncle somehow avoided trial and conviction, while many others did not.
An ancestor supported Lord Calvert of Maryland in the only English Civil War battle that occurred in the American colonies, was caught and sentenced to prison. He escaped, left the main land, and settled in Accomack County, Virginia, where he prospered. Another ancestor, a Cleveland, was imprisoned during the British Commonwealth period, for writing "scurrilous verses" about Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell. The ancestor was incarcerated in the Clink Prison for six months.
Ancestors and relatives of my parents fought in the Civil War, the War of 1812, multiple Indian Wars, the Revolutionary War, and I've traced a few who fought in the Wars of the Roses in England, the Crusades, and even a couple of battles that contained warlords and troops of Roman Legions... Right now, I'm reading about the Roman Empire, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, and the beginning of Charlemagne's Frankish Empire that became the Holy Roman Empire. It's fascinating stuff - especially when you realize that someone you're related to lived though it.
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
I Survived the Dentist
Well, I survived my first visit to a dentist in 21 1/2 years.... I took a second dose of my anxiety medicine two hours before arrival, and arrived before time, to fill out "new patient" paperwork. Then I met with the technician, who asked a few questions, then took the X-rays (I think there were 14) and then brought in the actual DDS. The tech was a very personable young Latino lady, and the dentist was a nice, gentle, and calm Asian woman. The dentist did a lot of testing and probing, and agreed with my own self-diagnosis - gingivitis, and enamel failure of three teeth. She believes the teeth can be capped, so I won't need a small bridge... But, of course, it all costs money. I was with the technician and the dentist for over an hour, and the cost was $89.00. Not bad, really. But I'm due back on January 12 for a cleaning and two fillings... Then we get to sit down and discuss the big expenses. - I'm already wincing! - I have NO dental coverage at all.
I get my complete heart doppler test done on January 30 at 2 in the afternoon; and I have the carotid artery tests and my brain MRI done early on January 6... I really hope they decide that it was a breaking capillary in my eye when I had the single eye white-outs. I really don't need any more stress or medications because I've had a stroke....
I've upped my exercise and my water consumption, and I will stop all sweets once 2017 is here. I have stuff to bake, and I refuse to NOT sample it!
I get my complete heart doppler test done on January 30 at 2 in the afternoon; and I have the carotid artery tests and my brain MRI done early on January 6... I really hope they decide that it was a breaking capillary in my eye when I had the single eye white-outs. I really don't need any more stress or medications because I've had a stroke....
I've upped my exercise and my water consumption, and I will stop all sweets once 2017 is here. I have stuff to bake, and I refuse to NOT sample it!
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
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