Blog Caroling 2012

I am sure I am a little late for this event this year but I still want to contribute. foot Marven have this event every year and I have been thinking about posting but you know life just sometimes takes over.

I have been reading this book I borrowed from the library, Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas by Ace Collins.  I saw it on the shelf with other Christmas books and grabbed it.  One of my best impulse grabs in the library.  I have enjoyed it immensely and I would recommend it.  I learned of one new song that when I heard it song it didn't grab me. 
When I saw I Wonder as I Wander I remember it right away but I hadn't heard it for a long time.  When I did a Google search I found several versions.  One by Julie Andrews which I bet my Dad had as a Christmas album and one by Barbra Streisand, that I had as a Christmas album.  I am sharing it here. 
 
 

I am so grateful for the Christmas miracle of our Savior's birth and all that it provides for me.

In case you are wondering why I have fallen off the face of the earth very suddenly.  It is because on the day I retired from work (November 16th) I became the temporary legal guardian of two beautiful girls ages 9 & 7.  So I became a stay at home Mom.  It is a wonderful experience and hard work.  They need my attention so other things fall to the way side. Including blogging and genealogy.  I understand there is a time and a season for all things.  So I am enjoying this season.  And enjoying all the hugs and kisses and holding little girl hands.  

I hope your Christmas was magical and my very best wishes to you and yours for the New Year.    

Gratitude # 13

I am grateful for Friends. I have had many good friends in my life. I have learned a lot from all of them and have had many hours of fun, living, loving and lots of good company with them all. Even with all the miles that separate some of us they are still near to my heart. I wrote about one last night and I will share more in the coming post of those who are extra special, but they are all special to me.

I even appreciate those friends who are gone from my life. They are gone because our paths have changed or we moved and lost contact. You know how it goes. At the time they were in my life they added to my life with their friendship. Some of the friends that are gone are not forgotten, I wonder how they are and how their life turned out. I hope they are well and life has turned out good for them.

I enjoy and am grateful for the new friends that I am making and how they enrich my life also.

Isn't it wonderful to have friends in our life and not to be alone. They help us grow and do things we won't do by ourselves. I hope that they view me as a good friend like I view them.

Miriam and Mary

Here is a picture of one of my friends from Nantucket, I meet while visiting my grandparents. We wrote for many years even up until high school. Gone but not forgotten.

And I just love that social media thing that has allowed me to

re-connect with lots of old friends.

 

Gratitude # 12

For my friend Karin, she was my hiking buddy. Because of Karin I worked out like a crazy women and backpacked the Grand Canyon down the South Kaibab trail and out the Bright Angel trail. I slept in a tent during a freezing night up on the rim and carried my 50 pound backpack down and out.  Remember going out means going up!   This was the first hike we did together.  I weighted the backpack when I returned to work and it weighed 40 pounds without the water.

 

Karin and I at Havasu Falls

The night before the hike down in to the canyon we sleep in our tent on the rim and it was 32 degrees when we woke up in the morning.  Thank heaven for a sleeping bag good enough for freezing weather.

 

Our second night we had camp at the Bright Angel Camp ground and the third night at the Indian Springs Camp ground. A storm had moved in the evening we were at Indian Springs and it was raining and cold. We didn’t pack a tent down because we didn’t want the weight to carry. We had two tarps which was fine at the bottom but not fine at Indian Springs. We slept under a picnic table and it was a miserable night.

 

Sleeping in freezing weather was never on my list of things to do in this life but I am so glad I did the hike. We did our hike in April so the lower levels of the Canyon won’t be so hot. It was a wonderful adventure!

 

We have hiked the Havasupai Canyon two times together. We got smart on these trips and let the horse pack our supplies down.   We camped in style with a Coleman stove and a 2 man tent.  We had a great time hiking.   

Gratitude # 11

 

Today and every day I am grateful for my lovely home in a nice neighborhood. I love coming home to my home, it just makes me feel good inside. I sigh a sigh of relief when I pull into my garage. It is my haven from the world. I pray that all that enter here come with peace and love in their hearts and I hope they feel our peace and love when they enter.

Richard & I made it a good home, not just a house. It is just the right size and close to the things I need. I also have nice neighbors and a great ward (church) Community. It isn’t big and fancy but it is warm and comfy. It meets our needs.

Richard closed in our patio and made it a lovely room for computers and my short arm quilting frame. He is so talented with his building skills. It was fun to see him work & learn when he built this room. Plus the end results are wonderful. He is also did a great job on his Man Cave. We even use it for Thanksgiving dinner as an over flow, the kids love to eat out there.

And I make the quilts to cuddle with and decorate with.

Such a good fit.

Plus this year our home has had an almost complete remodel inside so it is even more beautiful!

 

Gratitude # 10

I am grateful for nature and all the marveles it holds. My favorite is the ocenn. I love the ocean and the marvels it holds. I love the sound of the waves on the sand as they lap in and out. I love the feel of warm water on my body and the ablity to float.

I have scuba dived in the Atlantic Ocean around the Florida Keys and in Bimini. I have seen fish and coral of many colors. I have taken a night dive in a ship wreck and saw fish sleep in the ribs of the ship and night shrimp dance on the bottom of the ocean. I have seen waters so clear that you think it is 6 feet to bottom and it is 12 feet.

 

Scuba Diving in the Florida Keys

 

I have hiked the Grand Canyon and every time I see the Canyon I marvel at it’s beauty and majesty. I have huffed and puffed as I climbed out of the canyon but every step and every pound of that backpack was worth it. I have sat behind Mooney Falls at Havasupai Canyon and swam out from the falls. I have felt the power of the water falling. I had an under water disposible camera with me and took pictures as I floated out from the falls.

 

Climbing down to Moody Falls 1995

 

I have hiked the Grand Canyon once, Havasupi Canyon three times.

 

I enjoy seeing all the beauty that has been created for us to see and enjoy.

 

Gratitude # 9

I am grateful for technology. I really like such things as electricity and running hot and cold water. Cars are another thing I like. I like being able to get in one and go where I want to go. It also allows you to be with friends and see wonderful sights of this beautiful world we live on.

I also really like computers and the Internet. It was fun to use instant messaging with my cousin in England. It is grand fun to meet her and other cousins because of a website like Ancestry. It is exciting fun to find census records and stuff on line.

EQ on the Left Linda in Miami on the right

I use Skype to teach a friend in Miami Florida to use Electric Quilt software. Plus we visit and talk. Sometimes we do more talking than teaching and learning. We show each other what quilting projects we are working on. It is so much more fun than pictures. It is wonderful to receive an email within minutes instead of waiting weeks for letters to go back and forth. Though I do miss letters in the mail box.

I do like these modern things a lot. They have also helped me work on my genealogy and my quilting my two favorite pass times. It sure sounds like a win - win to me.

 

 

Gratitude # 8

Today I am grateful for Saturdays.  Yes, today is a Saturday.  I enjoy my day of being with friends and doing the a secret project and being creative.  Some Saturdays are for running errands and doing chores.  Some Saturdays are for resting and hanging out.  They sure are a nice change from the work week.  Today is my last Saturday before a work week.  This will be my last week working. 

 

 

My husband is very excited because I promised him when I retire I will go grocery shopping by myself  and we won't go any more after dinner on Saturday evening.  I'll be doing it by myself on a week day. 

 

It was also our first cool day of the fall.  A high of 63 degrees.  It feels wonderful. 

 

 

Gratitude # 7

I am grateful it is Friday. OK all the things I am grateful for don't have to be serious; we need to be grateful for some of the small things in life. The work week is over and I can have a change of pace. I like having a change of pace it renews my body, my mind and my spirit. Working is good and I am grateful for being able to work but I like reaching the weekend.

This Friday is different, just a little, it is the Friday of my last weekend that is followed by a work week. Next Friday will be my retirement day. A new chapter in my life will begin.

Now I am going to go sit in the recline, watch some TV and fall asleep.

 

 

Gratitude # 6

Today I am grateful for my health, physical, emotional, mental & spiritual. OK I might not be as physically healthy as I was in my 20’s or 40’s but I am in good shape for my age and trying to get into better shape and I am grateful to have the opportunity to take care of myself and others.

Mary in Sedona AZ Fall 1986

When I see a person younger than myself with major health problems I feel compassion for them and the trails they face. It reminds me of how fragile life and health are, and it make my gratitude fly on wings of prayer to heaven. 

 

Health isn't just about the body it is also about the mind and spirit. I am grateful I can renew my sprite each Sunday at church and each day during scripture study and with prayers.

As far as my emotional health I have frequently said, "I like my kind of crazy the best, at least I understand it." :-)

I am a little behind with my posts but some nights after work I am too tired to write.

 

 

Gratitude # 5

I am grateful for freedom, and for the people who fight for this freedom. Some close to me who have severed are my Mom, and Army nurse during WWII, and my son-in-law and nephew who were in Afghanistan.  I am especially grateful for those you gave their all for the freedoms we have.  As well as for their families that were robbed of a loved one.  As well as those who suffer many hardships because of their service to us and this country. 

I think we forget how important freedom is since we have never not had it in our life time. I did grow up in a time where I have seen people cross 90 miles of open water in a craft I wouldn't sit in if I was 10 feet from the coast line.  Why did they risk so much? To be free.  What are we willing to do to maintain this freedom? 

Grandma Minnie on the right

Here is a family story of my Maternal Grandmother from cousin.

Oh - I remember my Dad telling me this story about Minnie that you will appreciate - she campaigned for the women's vote, and participated in suffragette marches. When women finally got the right to vote and she went to the polls for the first time, she was told she couldn't vote because she was married to a non-citizen, thus was ineligible. She was furious, because SHE was born here! Now I never heard if that was simply the law at the time or if it was mix up, but I know that since hearing that story I can't miss voting because it makes feel guilty. Even if there isn't anyone to vote for, I gotta go because I feel like it honors her and all the work she and others who came first did for us.

I also vote in every election, I always think of it as my right and privilege for being a citizen. Now I know it was very important to my ancestors as well. My grandmother was the first one in her family to be born in this country. Her parents and all her siblings were born in Germany. 

 

Gratide # 4

Gratitude #4

I was so worn out yesterday I didn't have the energy to post my gratitude message so this one is for Sunday!

Pet you have to love pets. I have had a couple of dogs but I am really a cat person. I like that animals can sense when you need a little affection. Rosie my current cat will meow very loudly when Richard & I are having a loud conversation. It is almost like stop it you guys or use your inside voice.

Smokey wants to help me sew

The other night I had trouble sleeping and she cuddle right up next to me very close as if to say it all will be alright. She sleeps with me every night but this was different than normal.

The thing I noticed about dogs and finally made me decide I didn’t want any more was they are just too excitable. The jump and bark when you come home, you can hardly get in the door, then you have to walk them four times a day, when I had dogs I didn’t have a back yard. The last one I had howled when I was at work, not great for neighbors.

Rosie helping me sew

Cats are quiet, they let you come put your things down and come over and leave you alone for a while. They are there and just keep you company. Of course when they are young they want to be in the middle of whatever you are doing. I have grateful for the little four legged furry guys that have kept me company during my life.

 

 

Graditude # 3

Today I am grateful for my friend Rosie. She talked me into talked me into talking a quilting class with her. Which really wasn't that hard to do since I have sewed from age 14. And so the addiction began. But it is more than an addiction to me it is a legacy as I give my quilts to others and teach other the art of quilting I am giving something of myself to others. Helping them to grow and improve and have fun. I am grateful for the opportunities I am giving though my skills.

My friend Rosie

After we had been quilting for a couple of years she decided to open a quilt shop. Since I was the only person she knew that did paper piecing, a piecing technique, she asked me to teach that class. From there I began teaching lots of other classes. I still teach a lot of quilting classes. I also did the newsletter for the shop every quarter. I learned and developed all kinds of skills all because of my dear friend. And today I will be teaching an EQ7 class.

 

Graditude #2

Grateful for #2

My kids, they came with Richard when I married him. What a ride! Fulled with joy and pain, work and fun. They have taught me so much about life and love. Even some lessons I didn't want. I love them each and want the very best for them. They have blessed my life. I hope I have done my best for them.

I hope they each know how much I love them. I never had my own kids but I have always called these kids, "My Kids" because they came into my life and I wanted them to be in my life.

Kierra and her husband Will

An amazing young women, smart, self motivated and goal orientated.

Klint

Every role of film I would develop I would find one or two pictures of Klint like this one. It would drive me nuts. Now I just laugh, I am sure he will be doing this for a long time. He is our joker.

Kinsen moving out 2011

This is one of the nicest, sweetest young men you will ever meet. He is also disciplined, loyal and loving. He is also known as "Mini Mr. B.".

Gratitude Day 1

For the Month of November many are writing what they are grateful for, this is a good exercise so I am joining in.

Grateful Day #1

For my husband Richard or Mr. B., who loves me, a lot. He accepts me as I am, warts and all, he allows me to grow and become a better person. He is a faithful, hardworking, steady good man, he is honest and loyal and a lot of fun. He has blessed my life.

 

I have learned of good things from him like forgiving and how to give service.  He is loyal to his love ones. 

 

Does he drive me nuts, you bet!  But he is worth it and makes up for it in many other ways.  I mean when a guy treats you like a queen you can't complain.

 

I love you Mr. B.!

 

 

 

LPN

More pages from my life story scrapbook.  This is the start of my nursing career.  Yes that is my school pin on this page.

 

Student and graduate LPN

 

The story page

 

My nursing career

began when I enrolled in the Broward Vocation School in the LPN program in September of 1965 at the age of 17.  The teachers made it very clear to me that I was the youngest student they had ever accepted and they were not sure it was the right to accept me into the program.   I think they pushed me harder than some of the other students.

On October 13^th I had an emergency appendectomy, it was a Wednesday night.  I missed school on Thursday, Friday & Monday, which was a half day of testing for a scholarship.  I walked in to school on Tuesday and I was asked what was I doing there; they had dropped me from the program.  I told them they could not drop from the program because I had not missed 5 days of school; I had missed 3 days of school.   I do not remember thinking that was gutsy back then but in retrospect it sure did take some guts to stand-up to what I know what is right.   I was able to finish the year long program but they made me make up two days of school at the end of the year.  I spent my make time cleaning the classroom for the new class coming.

 

I was nominated to be the student of the year from my class and I attended the LPN Nursing Association Conference.  Each school had two representatives so we traveled to the conference.  I think it was in Jacksonville, Florida.  I forgot the name of my fellow student. 

 

Yes my career has been an…

 

Adventure

My Senior Prom

These are two pages from my life story scrapbook I am making.

 

Ed & Mary

 

My Senior Prom Story

Senior Prom

May 1965

 

My date was Ed and now I can’t remember his last name and he was my best friend’s older brother.  Barb was my first roommate after LPN school.  Funny how I can remember things we did together and were we meet but can’t remember her full name.

I made my dress, it was a bride’s mail pattern and I wasn’t an experienced enough seamstress at the time to know how to change the sleeves.  I also think at the time I liked the idea of the long sleeves but I didn’t like them the night of the prom, too warm.  It was a beautiful shade of teal with white lace trim.  The fabric had a satin finish, very slippery fabric to work with.

After the dance, which I have no recollection of where it was, we took a cruise bot down the International Waterway in Fort Lauderdale.  Ed and I dance a lot but we had absolutely nothing in common and it was nice of him to take me to my prom.  It was and last date.  I didn’t date a lot in high school but I had a date for the Senior Prom.

 I sewed on the dress every night after school and work in my bedroom.  I stayed up way to late on school nights working on it.  As I sit here writing this 47 years later, I think the dress is what I remember the best.

 

Wordless Wednesday

Mary' School Days

 

1958 to 1961

 

Some of my few school pictures.

Mesa Familly Search Expo

Connecting to Your Roots on Saturday October 20, 2012. 

8:15 AM to 2:15 PM

Here is the link to the expo site.  http://www.mesarfhc.org/MyExpo/default.aspx

It looks like it will be an excellent opportuity and I have signed up for German Research,   Immigration / Emmigration classes and I forgot what the other two classes are.  The price is wonderful; FREE!!

Here is a link to the Mesa Family Search Library a very valuable resource. http://www.mesarfhc.org/

Here is a summary about the library. I didn't realize they had 150 missionaries and 35,000 patrons who visit each year.  Nor did I realize they have 129 computers.  I do know about the free access to paid sites.  I have used them many times and plan to make better use of them in the near future. 

I hope to see you there!

 

 

This Date in My History

Well since part of the reason why I have this blog is to share some of my own personal stories. I am going to share this one. 

 

LPN Student 1965 - 1966 I am on the left.

On October 13,1965 I was enrolled in at the Broward County County School of Practical Nursing. We were getting ready to start our hospital rotation and on that Wednesday we where learning how to take vital signs, you know Temperature, Blood Pressure, Pulse and Respiration.  Yes I even remember what day of the week it was. 

 

After school I went home and didn't feel well.  I had a little headache and a stomach ache.  I thought I was constipated.  I drank some grape juice and I wasn't able to go to the bathroom and the stomach pain was getting worst.  My Mom had died in February that year and my Dad was at work as a fireman, he worked 24 on and 48 off.  So I called one of my Mom's nurses friends.  She came over and to me to Holy Cross Hospital Emergency room. 

 

 My Dad was called at work and he gave verbal permission so I could be treated since I was 17.  They asked me if I had a name of a surgeon. I did the one who did my Mom's colon surgery, Dr. John Bloom.  He came right in and examined me and decided I had appendicitis and I needed an appendectomy right away.  The nurse's aide that helped me that night was one of my class mates.  She had to catheterize me to get a urine specimen.  Boy was that embarrassing but I was so miserable by then I don't think I really cared. 

 

Off to surgery I went, the IV medications made me talk a lot.  The next thing I remember was being in my hospital room.  My Dad was there and once I woke up and knew he was there he went home.  The next thing I remember was having projectile vomiting.  You remember that grape juice I drank earlier.  Well it all came up and I hit the curtain between the beds.  Let me tell you that nurse was not happy with me.  I don't blame her but I couldn't help it, I woke up vomiting, with out warning. 

 

The next thing I remember was being giving a cold bed pan and told to pee while flat on my back.  Mind you I was in nursing school and I had learned to warm the metal bedpan with hot water. 

 

My next misadventure was my bed bath.  I had also learned how to do this correctly, providing privacy for the patient.  First you cover them with a bath blanket, on top of the bath blanket you place a towel and cover the chest and then pull the blanket down.  Guess what that didn't happen.  Remember I was a 17 year old shy girl. 

 

This was the hospital that my Mom worked at as a RN.  She had also died there.  So they all knew I was Annette Hartmann's daughter.  I heard them talking.

 

I was thinking about this the other day as I was writing the start of my nursing career and doing some scrap booking pages.  Here is the rest of the experience as I wrote on my scrapbook page.

 

On October 13^th I had an emergency appendectomy, it was a Wednesday night.  I missed school on Thursday, Friday & Monday, which was a half day of testing for a scholarship.  I walked in to school on Tuesday and I was asked what was I doing there; they had dropped me from the program.  I told them they could not drop from the program because I had not missed 5 days of school; I had missed 3 days of school.   I do not remember thinking that was gutsy back then but in retrospect it sure did take some guts to stand-up to what I know what is right.   I was able to finish the year long program but they made me make up two days of school at the end of the year.  I spent my make time cleaning the classroom for the new class coming.

 So here the story of one October 13th I remember very well.

Happy Search and story sharing!

My Dad's Address Book

Back in March when I was visiting my brother he gave me my Dad's cigar box and inside the box was his address book.  Below is the inside cover of his address book with all his addresses he lived at in Florida, the top one is were I lived as a kid. 

Notice the little cross in the top center.  My Dad did that on every document, letter, budget page he wrote one. 

Inside of cover

Here is an inside page of the address book.  When I first saw his entries I was thrill to see how he label each person with their relationship to himself.  I am even listed as his daughter.  I won't show those pages tonight.  I plan to track them on Google Maps so I can see all the different areas I lived at in Miami, Florida.  This book doesn't any of my Fort Lauderdale addresses. 

Some other Hartmanns with relationship

This is definitely a treasure to have, thanks Don for giving it to me.

A Blast from the Past

A picture of me in front of my first home I owned

about 1989 or 1990.

I gave this picture to my husband when we were dating, he carried it in his wallet, so it is a little ragged around the edges.

I really liked that outfit.

Antique Hanger

I am not sure when an item becomes an antique but because this hanger belonged to my Grandma Aunt I will call it an antique.

We have been remodeling here at my house and yesterday while I was replacing the cloths and hangers in the cloths closet I notice this one wooden hanger that had HARTMANN written into the wood.  I thought I remember this hanger.  I am not sure but I think it is the one my Dad hung his Fireman uniform on and it is his writing. 

I turned it over and I could barely make out some writing on the other side, the first word I noticed was Corkish.  It took a couple of minutes but I was able to see Mrs. Richard Bently Corkish.  I have never seen or remember seeing this writing  on the hanger before.   But I remember the writing from birthday cards I use to receive from my Grandma Aunt.  I stand corrected my grandfather was Alfred Bentley, so this belonged to my uncle's wife.  Thanks cousin Holly for the correction.

Why did Grandma Aunt Lucille write her name on her hanger?  Was it so it would be returned to her? Was it a tradition or a gift? 

I think my Dad wrote his name on it to find his uniform easier when it hung with other uniforms.

So how did this hanger make it all the way to Mesa, Arizona from Nantucket Island, Massachusetts?  This is what I think my Mom Annette Corkish used the hanger and took it with her to New York.  She married my Dad who used it.  Then I took it when I left home and moved many times until I arrived here. 

I like wood hangers so I won't have thrown it out.  I think I never noticed the writing before because I wouldn't have appreciated it then as much as I do now. 

Funny how things change as you mature.

One small step for me and my ancestors.