On my Way to California

I'm off to cruise the Mexican Rivera so I won't be posting lots but maybe a few words and photos from my Iphone.  I have it all set so we shall see how well it works.

Sailing to Cabo San Lucas which by this map looks further south than I've ever been. Then on to Puerto Vallarta before returning to Los Angeles.

My first roommate, I met at the pre-cruise party.  She was delightful but she had just gotten married the previous week so they found room for her new hubby. I was given another roommate who is closer to my age and we shall see who snores the loudest.  Bringing my earplugs.

Tatra Mountains in Poland

The Tatra Mountains are located along the border of Slovakia and Poland.

Cottage in Zakopane on the Tatra Mountains.

I'm dreaming of a sleigh ride or even a horse and buggy ride in Zakopane.

Has anyone ever heard of a Tatra car? This is a 1936 Tatra.

Ta ta.

Back in the Day

I think that everyone will know that the fella on the right is Clint but I was surprised at the charmer with the beard.  Any guesses?

Klobuck My Ancestral Home

I cannot even begin to comprehend how long it took to paint the walls and ceilings but this home belongs to someone in Klobuck, Poland. They might even be a distant cousin of mine. It's like one of those small communities that after a 100 years, everyone became cousins and had to seek other towns for marriage partners.

Murals in Poland

I have a board called Poland on my Pinterest.  Another person with Polish roots borrowed some of the photos that I found from Poland so I checked out her sight and walla - she had some mind blowing photos some of which I borrowed.

I still have a burning desire to visit Poland the land where my ancestors lived.  Maybe 2013 will be the year I can go - we shall see!

Street art by Sainer in Lodz, Poland

Mural in Lodz

Mural in Polska

It was in the city of Lodz that Stanislaw, my grandfather's oldest brother was a Parish Priest for the Catholic Church. During WWII when the Germans invaded Poland, they used Lodz as one of their gathering camps for the Jews before they were transported to death camps and other prisoners were held especially Polish Catholic Priests to work in their factories. Lodz became a ghetto.  

Stanislaw was sent to the first German Concentration camp in Dachau, Germany located on the grounds of an abandoned munitions factory just 10 miles NW of Munich. This camp served as  the central camp for Christian religious prisoners (at least 3,000 preachers, deacons, priests and bishops).  There was a special priest block. Out of 2,579 Catholic priests, 1,034 did not survive with the majority being Polish.  This is where Stanislaw died in October of 1941, probably from the horrific medical experiments that the bloodthirsty Germans performed on prisoners.

Taller than the mountain

The newly opened traverse mountain outlet stores:

Friends

I am grateful for friends, family and a will to try new things.

Saints from Yorkshire, England

Our tables were decorated with cute little creatures and fall's seasonal candy corn. Our monthly DUP (Daughters of the Utah Pioneer) meeting started out with a prayer and saying the pledge of allegiance to the flag. We sang two pioneer songs that none of us knew, one being "The Lily of the West".  

Angie told about her great great grandmother Ann Chester Ashby who was from Thorne, Yorkshire, England.  A missionary by the name of Ashby converted her to the gospel and she left England and traveled to Iowa where she picked up what she called "a pushing wheel barrel" to cross the plains to Utah. I don't know about you but I would have found a horse to ride instead of pushing a wheel barrel which was actually called a hand cart. 

After she settled in Utah, she again ran into Mr. Ashby and he married her.  Sounds like a little romance going on, huh?  They had 14 children six of whom died before maturity.

The pioneer museum piece was a leather strop - used to sharpen knives. The granddaughter of a pioneer donated their strop to the Springville Pioneer Museum. The owner of the strop had been sent on a mission to Australia and while he was there, they stoned him to death leaving a wife and several children in Utah to fend for themselves.

Laughter is Good for You

Laugh every day and spread the word. My dad always had a joke he could tell and me, I could never remember punch lines.

Utah Ski Resorts Open This Week

I remember how much fun it was to ski down that mountainside.  I even learned to do mogols (bump after bump).  I must admit it was a bit hard on the knees but I didn't have a care then.  I was single and working as a medical secretary.  Oh, those were the days of my youth. I even went night skiing once but only once because I ended up doing a summersault landing on my skis but it scared me. 

Your looking at our eastern mountain range - the rocky mountains.
This was from our weekend of snow storms. I think it was Snowbird ski resort - they got 49 inches of snow so they will open this week. As I remember though, the very best skiing was in the spring in February and March; mainly because there was tons more snow and it was warmer.

This is the mountain range on the west side of us.  As you can see, the bit of snow that fell in the valley melted but if you go 30 miles to the north, they were pounded with heavy snow enough to cave in a few carports.

Bliss in November

I am joining in with Liv Lane's Little Bliss List today on this blustery snowy day. It feels like fall and winter are here with the wind roaring its head off and the point of the mountain pass between Salt Lake City and Utah County is getting blasted with snow.

I don't mind the snow when I don't have to go out in it - watching large snow flakes meandering to the ground can be soothing. We are blessed to have the very needed moisture. You might say we've been cracking earth dry.

I got really excited this morning when I opened my email and found an invitation to a pre-cruise party in Saratoga. The best part is that Saratoga is only 5 miles west of me and easy to get to.  Now my spirits are lifted up thinking about my up coming cruise on the Mexican Rivera.

I skyped with my daughter yesterday and saw my little Naomi stamp her feet with excitement to see grandma and her face lit up like an angel.  Baby Shannon still has dark hair and her own little stylish hair do - she looked at me with wide open eyes just wondering who in the world is that person talking.

My friend Ann called up out of the blue and asked to me join her for dinner Tuesday evening at the Texas Roadhouse. My mouth still waters when I think of the steaks we had. Again I forgot to take photos of the food but it really takes a very extraordinary photographer to get good photos of food and I don't fall into that category.

I couldn't help myself, I borrowed this photo from an email; some very clever talented person can photoshop very well.

My Cousins Who Eloped

From the Montgomery County Newspaper; Lincoln County, Missouri – Yesterday (March 28, 1895) Clark Duncan and Miss Ada Owens (Owings) of Olney were united in the holy bonds of matrimony on the Short Line train while running between Troy and Moscow.  It seems that the bride’s parents objected to her one and only. She eloped with her lover and they boarded the train at Silex. As was pre-arranged, Rev. Samuel Eames got on the train at Troy and united them in marriage (Hannibal Journal).

Oh those runaway star crossed lovers! Their marriage was a success and they were blessed with two children and at least two grandchildren. 

I wish I had a photo of them but the only one I do have a photo of is Preacher Sam Eames - that is what they called him.

Taken in 1939, Preacher Sam Eames holding a great grandson.

Pave Crystals

Fuchsia Swarovski crystal pave balls on a gold slender slipper slide snake chain - one of a kind necklace.

These matching fuchsia Swarovski crystal pave balls with silver rondelles and two fuchsia Swarovski crystals on gold plated ear wires are perfect for the holiday parties.

Today I go in for a couple of heart tests, to find out
why my heart has an irregular beat.  Wish me luck.

lalaloopsy

I am no longer in the know - I have not heard of the lalaloopsy doll but my sweet granddaughter Rachael became one on Halloween eve.

Here she is with her neon pink wig and bright orange and pink dress.  She has a new friend who just moved into their neighborhood. 

So here is lalaloopsy and some creature from Star Wars (my grandson) in sunny California.

My step daughter from Arizona sent a package of children's clothes and bunches of bracelets that she made to my daughter.  Well, Rachael likes all of those colorful bracelets and fancy dresses.  In fact, I made Rach two bracelets while I was staying with them.  It must be hard for my daughter who developed an extreme emotional dislike for pink to buy a neon pink wig.  What we don't do for our children!

Little Shannon had no choice but to wear a skeleton but she's cute in anything. It looks red but it is really a pink.

Tis Friday and I am grateful for my grandchildren who give me joy and laughter.

Twas a hard week except for gab lunches with my friends.  Ann told me about a new cafe in AF that made gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches and soups. I always forget to take photos of food but I had a grilled cheese with artichoke, feta and dried tomato. The home made bread was cut thick and the combo was marvelous.

Twas marvelous that I was able to drive into Salt Lake and have a catch up gab fest and lunch at Kneaders with Becky my old pal from work.  I don't get out often enough because on the way into West Valley City, I missed my turn because they had built a new bridge over 7200 South and changed the road. 

Tuckered In

She got all tuckered - too many toys to put away. When was the last time you just went to sleep so easy? And by the way what is a shoe doing in the basket of toys?