Teresa's turtle

My good friend is having a 60th birthday party today.

We're going to have some fun celebrating it with her.

Another friend is going to give a turtle watch of some kind to Teresa.

So I'm providing the turtle to keep her connected.  Teresa loves the beaches of North and South Carolina.

Another year older

Happy birthday son Tai

Well, it's an annual thing.  Having a birthday.  Each time the earth comes round to the place it was in on the day you were born, there's that birthday thing, counting that you started life at 0, then spent that first year learning so very much.

Anything new to be said?

Just sending you all my love, and wishes that this birthday is happy, and that you have many many more.

I love you,
Mom

Oh, here's a link to 200+ photos from the Burning Man Festival...whow!

Celebrating a 75th

I've been posting old photos of myself when younger, as Facebook portraits for the last month.  Tee hee.  Most people who know me now wouldn't believe that's me.  Perhaps I could sneak in Susan Sarandon, Merle Street? Well, I've got green eyes, so Sarandon won't work...not sure about Merle.  And not at age 75, if you please, anyway.

Barb Rogers 1976 or so

I'm celebrating by myself this year.  Strangely enough.  My daughters-out-of-law have birthdays in the same month, and one had a trip to Yellowstone last month, and the other a trip to Cuba for their birthdays.  That leaves 2 of my sons with empty pockets but happy girl friends.  My other son is going through one of those big work transitions right now, after he just got back from vacation with his family.

My travels aren't that far these days, but a whole day driving around these mountains is certainly enjoyable for me.  Just wait till I post pics of my waterfall, Mount Pisgah, Cradle of Forestry trip from last week!

I was surprised yesterday when Congressman McHenry came into our Senior Lunch Site, and stood at each table talking to the participants.  When he came to our table where we were having conversational Spanish class (just 5 of us this week when we sometimes have 12!) I had asked the 5 (in English) what we should ask him.  So we were somewhat prepared.  It was the most attention I would have ever received from a Congressman, and he came to us.  We stressed that healthcare needs to be changed, but part of the problem is that the insurance industry donates to Congressmen.  He said he'd take money from anyone, but would vote to represent his constituents.  (Can I believe that?)  He then left to go to a Town Hall meeting where 170 or so people met with him.  And I was one of 5 that had his attention for 10 minutes! WHow!

My best friend who lives on the other side of the continent, sent a package that got here last Friday.  I was looking forward to seeing the lovely things she's sent.  A nice silver necklace with a pretty stone in it, blue...not sure what.  And several blouses in jewel-tones.  I am wearing one of them (and the necklace) in the picture with Mr. McHenry above.  While she's battling cancer, she thinks of others...that's the way she's lived all her life.

I went shopping for a new purse last week.  When I went up to Pisgah Inn with a friend last week, I splurged on food and decadent chocolate.  That was definitely a birthday bash.  She has her birthday at the end of July, and I missed celebrating it with her.

When we get to this age, life seems to interfere with birthdays.

After all, there was this eclipse this week.  Geese, how could it not be on MY DAY!

Posted by National Quilt Museum,  Thanks to commenter, made by Caryl Bryer Fallert.

This year I'm very very grateful for my good health, which has improved after a couple of times when it dipped into the uglies.  I'm being more active in taking care of myself as a result!  McHenry also had pneumonia this summer, and we briefly talked about the long time it takes to come back to our own "normal."

I could have organized a festive party, if I'd had the energy.  That would also include green energy, namely the money it takes in food and booze. I prefer to parcel out my energy expenditures in things that bring me the most joy, and frankly having a lot of clean-up after a party doesn't give me much joy.  I'll see most of my friends at one time or another during a week...at the studio, at the lunch program, at church, or just in Facebook and emails, where I also kind of keep up with my family.

So here I go doing what I choose to do each day for another trip around the sun...my 76th!
I just realized maybe I'm ready to take more risks with my life.  Mmm, can I change at this time in my life? We shall see!

Surprises can be blessings

I was so happy this morning to turn on the laptop, to see a birthday wish from my dearest friend. And a birthday wish from someone who hasn't been part of my life for years, there it was in my in-box this morning.

My techno station with aquatic meditative focus

Why do I call it an in-box? When I worked in an office, I did have those two baskets on my desk, the top one for things that were "coming in" for my attention, and the bottom one for things that were "going out." They weren't always mail.  I even had a basket for filing things.

So my home desk is organized (sort of) in a similar way.  My thinking is imprinted from all those years of channeling papers in a familiar way.  There's a stack to be filed. It's a lot of old papers, mainly bills which have been paid...and medical notes from doctors.  And there's a stack to be taken care of, mainly the bills which haven't been paid and are due soon, and other things that are "pending."

So let's get back to other kinds of things in my life.

A new crop of guppies.  They are delightful, in that they were once mine, or perhaps the descendants of mine.  When I moved to my apartment last fall, I gave my 30 gallon tank to a family with three precious daughters, as well as a whole lot of guppies.  I kept my small 10 gallon tank, and a few guppies also.  But when I got sick last winter, I let the tank get pretty full of algae, and the guppies died.   I did net them out and tried to keep a few in a jar till I could clean the tank out...and I still have just one of those. 

Guppies on right, platty's on left.

But I asked the young mom if I could have a few of their guppies, since most of mine had died. And a couple of days ago she gave me a container of 6 pretty ones.  So now they are introduced, in a separate area, into my little aquarium here by my desk.  Look, it's yet another compartment that I've got in my life, keeping the guppies safe from the bigger fish.  The old bills go in one pile on my desk, the new guppies are opposite them, a new place vs. an old one.

Goodness, I seem to be full of lots of trivial details today.  I hope that's not a sign for how my next year will go.

And as I sit here drinking my coffee, I can listen to a new but old broadcast of Joseph Campbell, speaking about India, China, Bronze Age, and Buddhism.  It came through Open Culture, a newsletter which posted 12 hours of streaming talks on all kinds of things.

Life is good.

Did I mention the weather is being so cooperative today? There's a cool breeze coming in my big windows. Last night I slept under a blanket. On the more public side of my space, the smaller windows let me hear my neighbors greeting each other along the path.  On the side of the apartment with the huge windows, I see nothing but green leaves in the trees.  I also hear some cars and trucks in the distance...a sighing rumble that has become a backdrop for the birds which wake me up daily.

Gratitude. That will be my word for the next year.  It is the highest feeling I have today.  So you may wish me a happy birthday, but I'll just be smiling that I'm feeling so grateful. I'm completely overwhelmingly full of gratitude!

Joy

Today is the birth anniversary of my second son, Russ.  I gave you lots of pictures of him last year, so I'll just link over there if you're interested!  (HERE)

I'm still very proud of him, and love him a whole bushel and a peck!





Today's Quote:

"You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make."  — Jane Goodall

Art Saturday and Great Uncle John Webb

John Singer Sargent (American, Impressionism, 1856–1925): Scuola di San Rocco, 1903. Created in Venice, Italy. Watercolor on paper, 35.6 x 50.8 cm. Private Collection. Image: Pragmatic Romanticist.

I wonder if museum quality art which is posted on Facebook is allowed for Sepia Saturday Here?
If it's not, this painting will disappear quickly.
The meme is ...

John Leroy Webb

In honor of my eldest son's birthday tomorrow, I am also sharing a photo of his Great Great Uncle John Webb (1880-1938)  What do you read from this photo? At least a dashing student. I have no idea when it was taken.

My mother's father was his brother...Albert Bud Webb (1891-1919).  They were 2 of the 8 children born in Huisache (or the Anglicized version that is now on maps) Weesatche, Texas, in Goliad County.

Albert Bud Webb (my grandfather)

Here's Bud's draft card from June, 1917, when my mother was 2 months old.  It was apparently enough to keep him from going to the war.

(Source: Ancestry.com - not my relations!)

But unfortunately Grandfather Bud was killed by an electrical accident (bad wiring and being electrocuted) in 1919.  My mother remember it as being Christmas lights, but it happened in September, so it must have been some other wiring in the home. His business listing on his draft card said Restaurant, self employed. His death certificate said he was a restaurant proprietor, and the electrical accident was not occupational.

But back to Uncle John. He was older by 11 years than Bud.  His draft card in September,1918 states he was a Postmaster and Clerk, for a mercantile business, partly owned by the Webb family. But he was already 39 by the time he registered for the draft.

Uncle John and Aunt Lizzy Webb, 1901

 His wife was Elizabeth (Lizzie) Hohn Webb (1883-1960) born in NY perhaps, and had parents born in France.  They had 3 daughters, Anne Lorraine Webb Cross (1902-1949), Hazel Marguerite Webb Doughty Hinds (1908-1970), and Pearl Adelle Webb Hammerle (1918-2005).

In the 1900 Census, John was living with his 2-years-older brother, James, and listed himself as a salesman, while his brother was a bookkeeper. They lived next door (or perhaps in a building separately built on the same property) as their parents in Goliad County, TX. By the 1910 census he was living with a wife and his first 2 daughters, lists himself as a Postmaster, again in the same area of Goliad County, TX.

Between 1918 and 1920 his family had moved to San Antonio, TX, and he gave his occupation on the census as a traveling salesman of dry goods. By 1930 the census gives his sales as hosiery. He was living with his wife, now listed as born in Texas, and 2 daughters.  At this time the census tells us Aunt Lizzy's father had been born in Alcase-Lorraine, and her mother in NY.

I take the census' birth places with a grain of sand these days.  It's a big maybe.

So why go through all these details?  Well, my son might like to know these 2 Webb men were both listed as tall on their draft cards, and having blue eyes, and light hair.  Granddad Webb had slightly balding hair in his 20s, while his older brother at 39 had light hair.

And since these are the genes which come from great grandfathers and uncles, it's nice to see that they could have lived a fairly long life for that generation.   Great Great Uncle John did die from stomach hemorrhage, at age 58.  With new medicines which treat ulcers, he probably could have lived much longer.  And working with electricity is much safer these days, as my son well knows!

Thanks for reading through all these family details.  I love pursuing the census and draft cards to find what the actual interviewer put down, even if it is different sometimes than it was on another one.  That's what makes genealogy fun for me.

And as suggested in a comment, I've now added the following photo of my son when in his 30s (holding his son, Will)

Remembering my ancestors

Happy Birthday!
  to Alexander G Swasey Sr. 

My great-great-great grandfather 

Birth 10 Sept 1784 in Swansea, Bristol, Massachusetts, USA 

Death 28 Oct 1861 in Newport, Newport, Rhode Island, USA

Last year I posted in his honor HERE.  And earlier I posted about him HERE.

These were my comments and some of my research about him and his family.


This year I will just add a newspaper article that was about him and his work as a wood carver.

Unfortunately the person who added this to Ancestry didn't give any data as to when or where it was published.  I'm pretty sure it was published in Newport RI.

My sleuthing feelings say it came out in the early 20th century because of the referral to "during the middle decades of the last century" referring to the wood carving having been on display at the Market on Pelham St (in Newport, RI).

A World's Fair in New York is where his carved eagle was being displayed.  That should give me a date.  Well, there were a lot of expositions of different interests in New York many times in the early twentieth century.  But we might go for the first big one, called a World's Fair, which is just an assumption.

That was the 1939-40 World's Fair, which had a lot to do with a forward thinking outlook, moving away from the depression years, and with the 60 foreign exhibits, showing the world that the US was doing pretty darn well.  It also was interrupted by the beginnings of the European conflict and two countries didn't even open their exhibits in 1940, Poland and Czechoslovakia.

I wonder if the Rhode Island unit of the New England pavalion was during that World's Fair...

The article also seems to have some sarcastic remarks about how the Swasey eagle replaced another "more modern" exhibit.  I wonder if that had anything to do with the beginnings of World War II...a patriotic symbol instead of some terns.


I'm joining Sepia Saturday with the connection (frail though it may be) that this post is also about something published in a newspaper.  Check out other posts over at Sepia Saturday HERE.

Plain ole me

Many things changing ...the one constant that life offers us is change.  Each day something is always going to be different.

At least it's not like walking on quicksand...I think.  It's like walking with many curves in front (as well as in back) of me, with many high slopes ahead, and with some rocky places as well.

But it all comes out with a cycle of movement, which I prefer to think of as a spiral.

The only trouble is forgetfulness.  I forget each morning until I get reminded, that life is a spiral, not a straight line between birth and death.  The spiral takes me from inside close to center, then out to the further edges where movement seems so slow that it's as if I'm barely moving.  

But then before I fall off this spiral (whatever that might be) I'm pulled back, moving towards center again.

If you're a potter friend, you know how centering is something that is done before creating anything on a wheel.  If you're a meditating friend, you know how sitting in quiet lets you feel your own physical, spiritual, emotional being is tucked there inside as you feel centered.

So as my life as Barbara has experienced yet another turn of the earth around the sun, I celebrate with my friends and family becoming a youngish elder of 73.  Once that felt like it would truly be old age.  But today I meet many people in their 80s and 90s...and one dear person over 101...so I know I've got a lot of living still to do.

Sharing cheer with my friend, Helen, I'm on the left.

Today's quote:

The grass is not, in fact, always greener on the other side of the fence. No, not at all. Fences have nothing to do with it. The grass is greenest where it is watered. When crossing over fences, carry water with you and tend the grass where ever you may be.

Robert Fulghum