Alphabe-Thursday - The Letter K.

Jenny wants our ALPHABE-THURSDAY Letter "K" assignments.  

Before I begin, I must confess my idea came from, Lisa Shafer, and this will take you to her post.

The little girl still living inside me felt something was missing from her list.  Read on and you'll understand what, and why possibly why she didn't include it at all.

ALPHABE-THURSDAY

My letter K is for- Keene, 

Knowing Carolyn Keene.

Remember Nancy Drew Mystery Stories by Carolyn Keene? 

Did you know, Nancy Drew books were written by ghost writers?


Carolyn Keene, was not the only author for the Nancy Drew Series.  See here.

The writer's story.

Did you know the writers were initially paid $125.00 for each book and were bound by a contract to give up all rights to their work, and to maintain confidentiality?

Stratemeyer Syndicate hired writers and instructed every writer to follow their provided outlines.  

Mildred Wirt Benson, and Harriet Adams are considered the two most important Nancy Drew authors, both women had a profound effect on the Nancy Drew series.  Walter King is also considered important because the three volumes he wrote are favorites of many readers.  He wrote: Nancy's Mysterious Letter, The Sign of the Twisted Candles, and The Password to Larkspur Lane.

Just reading the titles again, sparks the desire to solve the mystery!

More about Nancy Drew here at Wikipedia.

WHO IS CAROLYN KEENE READ HERE.

A complete list of Nancy Drew Mystery Stories - List of Titles and Publication Dates here.

Volumne # 5

Nancy Drew series book 1 through 34 in the original texts were published from 1930 to 1956 and contain 25 chapters and about 210- to 225 pages each.  The early Nancy Drew is smart, adventurous, flippant, and daring.  Nancy drives a smart blue roadster and has blond hair.  Helen Corning is Nancy's friend in the earliest books, but by volume 5, (and the girl I recall best) her best friend is Bess Marvin and George Fayne are Nancy's closest friends, while Helen only appears occasionally.  I guess I read more of the volumes after 35 and through 56 because I remember Bess and Ned as her constant friends helping her solve crimes.

As a child, I enjoyed the covers and drawings inside.

Remember these?

A first page dedicated to describing what the story was about.

Thanks for stopping by my K post for today!

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Roland A. Welch

Raynor Park, Mason, Michigan

more photos from Mason, Michigan here.

People have been enjoying this park since 1872.

This week I'm skipping over to my grandmother's family on my father's side.  May I introduce,

Roland A. Welch, born in Mason, Michigan on 15 June 1892.

He also happens to be my grandmother's first cousin (on her mother's side of the family) and this photo (on the other side) declares he was her first school teacher.  

             My grandmother, Ada Harriet, is my father's mother.
This photo of her, could very well be a photo from about the time Roland Welch was her teacher.

52 ANCESTORS in 52 WEEKS

This ancestor challenge is
Sponsored by Amy Johnson Crow, from "No story too small" at this link

Where each week we write about one of our ancestors.


I've always known that he was a teacher, but I had no idea, until reading his draft registration that he was also, a truant officer. I find that very interesting.  Of course, when school was out during the summer, he was busy working as a farmer, as many did back then.

Holt, Michigan is where he first taught.

A brief bit of history about Holt, Michigan,  about the time he became a school teacher, and more here, thanks to Face book.




Apparently, his home town of Mason, and the city of Holt, where he eventually lived, weren't suitable enough for him and he moved his family to the much larger city, Detroit, Michigan.  I'm not entirely sure what date, but sometime before his marriage to, Vera L. Connell on July 28, 1920.   They had a daughter, Patricia A. born in 1928, also listed as being in Wayne, Detroit City, Michigan. The 1940's census lists them still living in Ward 16, Detroit, Michigan, with their one daughter, Patricia at the age of 12.

Later, they did something quite different from their other relatives.   They moved to Florida.

Dated from June 5, 1917 is Roland's draft registration can be seen here.

From World War 1 1917-1918  the actual photo of his draft registration can be seen here.

His draft registration is rather interesting and worth a look. He is described as tall, and slender, with blue eyes and light brown hair.  His present trade is listed as, Truant Officer and teacher in the city of Detroit, and that he works on a farm in the summer.  The farm, is quite possibly part of the family acreage in Delhi Township, Michigan.

I discovered this little poem on the Ingham County and Delhi Township ancestor's site, written possibly by a student?  The author is unknown, but the poem is very fitting for their day.

School days, school days,

Dear old Golden Rule days,

Readin' and Ritin' and Rithmetick,

Taught to the time of a hickory stick.

You were my queen in Calico,

I was your bashful barefoot beau,

and you wrote on my slate,

I love you, Joe.

When we were a couple of kids.

-Author unknown.

I hope to research more regarding Roland, as it seems further depth is required to fill in the blanks from their leaving Michigan, and eventually taking up roots in Florida.

As it appears, he died on February 1, 1972 in Pinellas County, Florida.

I have yet to discover the location of his grave.  So far, he isn't listed in any of the cemeteries in the link below, but some of the cemeteries were not available during the update process.

A complete Cemetery listing in Pinellas County here.



I present this question to you.  Roland A. Welch, is my grandmother's first cousin, so what would you say his relation is to me?

I welcome your thoughts.

Thematic Photographic - 279 Threesies

Yes indeedy, no typo at all.   Carmi, from Written Inc blog, has selected "threesies" as our theme this week.

THREESIES, All in a row.

THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC

"By three methods we may learn wisdom: First by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest." - Confucius

This week, I'm taking Carmi's lead and I'm sharing a few loved ones in threes.

Reflection- Of a day in our life.

Imitation- year after year, in celebration of another birthday, as they come and go.

Experience, is what's handed down, generation after generation.

(Of course the above photo was taken with my cell phone, of my father, his mother (my grandmother) and my aunt.)

May your days be filled with, reflection, imitation and experience, and surrounded by Joy for all!

The Mag - 204

...the falling snow raged on, as if reaching for rifting clouds, so that together they would vanish, all hopes of sunlight pushing through.

THE MAG

The Mill 1964 Andrew Wyeth

KOOKY INTROCEPTION

Bellowing of sights and hollow's depth

wide gazing eyes

through spectacles of youth

like twin fires

pressed before him

never flinching.

In cold brilliant breadth

overlooking

green hillocks

and water pockets

his tunefulness

rushing over him

under glistening showers.

 Ever powerful

ever luminous

not a frosty mill

but rather still

his most wonderful-

 swimming hole.

"Each man should frame life so that at some future hour fact and his dreaming meet." - Victor Hugo

Thanks for reading my Magpie

posted for Tess Kincaid

at her

The Mag

for more magpies go here.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday - 26 January 2014

It's time again for Ashley Sisk, to unleash our hunt for today! 

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY

If you care to join along-

Her rules for the game are simple.  Anyone can participate.  She encourages five new photos each week, just to feed our creativity more!  Link up here on Sunday or by Tuesday at the latest and leave comments on at least five other entries. Which by the way is not hard to do, because once you check them out, you'll want more!

Note: Ashley always offers next week's challenge at the end of her Sunday hunt for the day.  It gives us all week to take our photos!

Today we're hunting for, ribbon, writing of letters, notice, silhouette, and on the water.

Let the hunt begin.

1.  RIBBON

Conflicting decor, as Mr. Frosty has been asked to pick up his ribbons and

Leave, so that Valentine's hearts and ribbons are allowed to shine!

2.  WRITING OF LETTERS

Really, there's no sense in writing to him, he'll just do as he pleases.

3.  NOTICE

4.  SILHOUETTE 

5.  ON THE WATER

Notice, how this is the only remaining life (left inside) of our Christmas tree this year?

For more Scavenger hunt posts go here.

Six Word Saturday- 25 January 2014

Can you believe it's Saturday again!  

SIX WORD SATURDAY

I never noticed until I saw this photo, but just take a look at that shadow!  What do you see?

A PLANE OR 

SUPER DOG'S SHADOW ?

Here's a little preview of what's to come in just a few hours from now.  Picture taken at her dance rehearsal!

FUN-TIMES TODAY AT LYRA'S DANCE RECITAL

To see other Sis Word Saturday posts at Cate's Six Word Saturday go here.

Are You Coming to the Winter Carnival?

Come on get ready

to have some winter fun!

Of course, it's that time again, right on the back of our frozen tundra winter-

 for the Saint Paul Winter Carnival!

Just remember, today we have a winter break- it's going to be a high of 36 degrees.

Hooray!

Even if yesterday most of our schools were closed because of the frigid temperatures
take note now while you can enjoy the outdoors
because
those horrible temperatures will return on Monday so, 

We have TODAY!

Yes! Saint Paul Winter Carnival

Wikipedia here.

Every year it's fresh and new and exciting to see what artists can do with just ice!

For more information on the Coolest Celebration ever go here for all the details!


I hope to see you there!

Sepia Saturday - 212 - Live Free or Die - 25 Jan 2014

My post begins not far from the 

Franconia Notch and Appalachian Trail New Hampshire.

Did somebody mention fresh snow falling? A most perfect day to hit the slopes wouldn't you agree?

SEPIA SATURDAY 

As I read Alan's telling description this morning, he does travel into the forecast of upcoming weather, and from my backyard, he's spot on with his winter-fun-moment.  Perhaps you have your own opinion of the end of January, or just what this chap is up to, and if you care to share or visit other posts  please do here.


Did you notice from our theme photo that the man's clothes appear to be for a warmer skiing climate?  Same story holds true for the photo below.  By all means, here in Minnesota, the norm is much different for ski apparel.

March 1940

On a Saturday afternoon high school students arrived at Dickinson's farm to ski.  Mr. Dickinson even built a ski tow on his farm, at a cost of one thousand dollars.  He owns a small dairy farm there and apparently a hurricane the year before destroyed his entire grove of maple trees that he used for selling maple syrup as well.  His place is at Lisbon, near Franconia, New Hampshire.

Come on, let's get ready to go skiing!

It's a hot and skiing time at the Dickinson farm this weekend!

All of these photos are included in a series of a Skiing adventure at Mr. Dickinson's farm in 1939 or 1940.  

Can't you just tell what the girl looking at us might be saying?

"I caught you Mr. Photographer, taking our picture, while I was eating a sandwich.  Well, a girl has to keep up her strength for the slopes right?"

If you ask me, it must be a warm day out on the slopes, judging by their lack of coats, wouldn't you agree?

Now who is that in the full length fur coat?  Mr. Dickinson himself?

Maybe.

This photo says this is Mr. Dickinson, a farmer with his ski tow.

This link shows his draft registration for World War 1, and again link for his draft registration for World War 11 

Now this photo looks a bit more like a day out skiing.

Looks like it's been an exhausting day out on the slopes, or perhaps they're just catching some sun rays!

How beautiful are those mountains in the background?

Meet a hired hand, Pat James, at Mr. Dickinson's farm, splitting wood for winter fuel.

A link for Skiing in New Hampshire.  The famous, Ice Bar really caught my attention. It reminds me of being at Big Mountain Ski Resort in Whitefish, Montana.

New Hampshire motto, 

Live Free or Die explained here.

I believe these photos are a true tribute to "Live Free or Die"

Alphabe-Thursday - Celebrate J

We open our notebooks to another assignment for Miss Jenny at "Off on my tangent" by introducing the letter "J" for class today.


ALPHABE-THURSDAY

MY LETTER J IS FOR JUST Wondering.


JUST wondering why didn't I become an architect?  

The real jewel of an architect that is.  



I'm not joking when I say I've been jamming my mind these days, in a joyful manner, jumping from one house design to another.  I've enjoyed studying houses and buildings since I was a child.  

Juggling back and forth with thoughts of when, where, or what we might down size to, as they say, from our old family homestead.

Just thinking mind you, and so,

Just for fun, and not being judgmental, I pose a question, which has been bugging me.  

Just what were those designers thinking?  I've been trying to justify the builder, or rather architect that gave thought to the idea of blocking the front view of a house with a garage.  


Of course, if I ever had a house designed with our garage as the very front of my house, this design below might possibly be it.

Yet, when I really study the photo, it's simply the garage door I like most of all. 

Just for the record, far too many townhouses, row houses or lodges as they are frequently called appear too often like this photo below.

How do you like this house?  Oh really, you can't see it? Well, it's right there behind the garage.

Moving on and,

Judging by this photo below, just by having their upper terrace in plain view, keeps the rest of their house much more private.

But, also lacking in style or beauty.  I like what a garage is/does, period.

Maybe it's just me, but I find the front of any house, a jolly sight to behold.  It often lends to just who lives within the house as well.  

Just the kind of place I might enjoy at the lake for sure.  Quite a crafty and sturdy structure for sure, see here.

Okay, I'm-
Just wondering what your thoughts are on this subject, and if you have any you'd care to share, please do.  But just for the record, the photo below is pretty much my perfect fit.  What do you think?

Just for the record, I will forever like this jolly old joyful style best of all.