Getting Old is for Tough Old Birds

Three years ago I had a total knee replacement on my right knee. The following year, I fell in my own bedroom and broke my left wrist - actually, I smashed it pretty good so I had to have surgery on it. Screws, metal plate and all that stuff making me the bionic grandma.  It certainly put a damper on my jewelry business on Etsy (DiansGems).  Anyway, apparently, I am being plagued with losing my balance because this year, I fell again and this time, I broke my right wrist. They had me in three casts - the first one up to my armpit, the next just above my elbow and if the doctors had had their way, they would have operated on my right wrist but I said a flat "no".  I've had enough of being cut on. I did just fine and can now work on my jewelry again and do my water aerobics. I workout 4 days a week and wonder how long my old body will let me continue to do that.

Here are a few photos of the new items I have created:

This is aragonite which is almost always white or a very light color. The earrings are post type.

Aragonite increases energy, boosts self-confidence and feelings of self-worth as you learn to place trust in yourself. A great set to wear if you are dealing with teenagers or stress in your life. I haven't added them to my Etsy shop yet but if you are interested, email me.

Suchanski, Zdanowicz & Warren Lineage by Ruth S. Kelly

Years of research sent into this book. Looking for Zdanowicz cousins who might want to pass down information about t heir roots from North Chicago and Poland.

Suchanski Zdanowicz & Warren Lineage | Etsy:  Link to buy book

This is a family history book about the descendants of Sebastyen Suchanski from Klobuck, Poland and 

Vincent Zdanowicz, and the Staranowicz families from Sztabin, Poland. Who later came to America first settling in Chicago and then moving to North Chicago, Illinois. From there, their descendants moved to Florida, California and Wisconsin.

This book has 501 pages and 36 color pages and 25 chapters in a hardbound book.

Adolph Staranowicz, Alexander Staranowicz and Anton Staranowicz - lived in North Chicago, Illinois, Florida and in California. Vincent and Rose Zdanowicz settled in North Chicago, Illinois (includes all of their children and some of their grandchildren).

I have now traced the Zdanowicz family into Stare Troki, Lithuania and they were of noble birth.

Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing a book and belong to our family.  Ruth Kelly. You can contact me through this blog or by email kellyrd@yahoo.com.

Chapter 08: Suchañski Lineage in Kłobuck, Poland

Chapter 09: Skwarczyñski & Siwczyñski Lineage

Chapter 10: Piotr Suchañski & Joanna Skwarczyñska 

Chapter 11: Stanisław and Adam Suchañski 

Chapter 12A: Chester Piotr Pawel Suchañski 

Chapter 12B: CP Norton Suchañski 

Chapter 12C: Chester Norton & Bessie Brazil 

Chapter 13: Stella Zdanowicz Suchanski

Chapter 14: Walter Zdanowicz & Agnes Konieczny 

Chapter 15: Victoria Josephine Zdanowicz 

Chapter 16: James Zdanowicz  & Martha Piktel 

Chapter 17: Casimir Zdanowicz & Helen Wasniewski 

Chapter 18: Violet Zdanowicz & Stanley Borawski 

Chapter 19: Anthony Zdanowicz & Lillian Wilson 

Chapter 20: Wincynty Zdanowicz & Rozalia Staranowicz 

Chapter 21: Staranowicz & Zagorski Lineage 

Chapter 22: Zdanowicz Lineage from Sztabin, Poland

Rose and Vincent Zdanowicz with my grandmother Stella and her brother Walter.


Grandma was the first generation born in the United States while her parents came from Sztabin, Poland.

California Trip October 2018

Not long after we left Reno, Nevada crossing the border going toward Susanville, California, we came across this terrible tractor trailer car accident.  The cab of the truck was completely flipped around and all the windows were broken.  The driver walked away unhurt but one lady in the car that was involved was life flighted to the nearest hospital.

 Reflection shot.

See how dry it is here in California, just waiting for a lightening strike or a careless spark to ignite and burn a beautiful forest.

 In Redding, California, we visited the Sun Dial Bridge at Turtle Bay which crosses the Sacramento River.  It is a cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge. Fishermen are often seen passing beneath the bridge as they fish for salmon, steelhead and rainbow trout. 

The bridge was created in 2004. The tip of the shadow moves approximately one foot per minute.  The dial of the sundial and a small plaza beneath the support tower are decorated with broken white tile from Spain. The bridge's deck is surfaced with translucent structural glass from Quebec, which is illuminated from beneath and glows aquamarine at night.

No one else walking on the glass and steel bridge seemed to be concerned that we were in fact walking on glass.  I was very hesitant and walked more on the steel parts. Just a nervous Nelly!

Markleeville, California

Gas prices in California are indeed very high this beautiful October year of 2018. On our way to Yosemite National Park, we ran across a tiny town called Markleeville. I'd like to return one day, it is a fascinating place.

Linking to: Weekend Reflections

A Horse of Many Parts

I can't help but be fascinated at the artist who repurposed parts and made something wonderful.

Car Show

I took lots of photos at this car show at the St. George Airport of cars, motorcycles and airplanes.  It was quite fun but this was the best one to share with weekend reflections.

Lincoln Covered in Copper Pennies

At a car show in St. George, Utah, we found this amazing Lincoln which the owner not only gave away pennies but had covered his entire bottom half of the car with them.
1989 Lincoln

Trunk with 89 in pennies.

Proud owner of the Lincoln.

White wall tires, or course.
Linking to Weekend Reflections

Tombstone Reflections

Flower reflections taken in Klobuck, Poland.

Linking to weekend reflections

Tree of Life

I made my first tree.  I can see that I need to be more artsy with the tree but with more practice, I should hopefully get better.  I haven' t blogged since January.  It was a hard beginning of the year with lots of storms kicking my migraines to the limit.

SLC

Linking to Weekend Reflections

Here we are in the middle of winter and the birds are still around. That puzzles me because I thought they all flew south when snow hit and stayed on the ground and yet, last week a small group of robins were roaming around my backyard. The magpies never go away, they fly from the pine tree in my neighbors yard in the back to my neighbors pine tree two houses west. Yesterday, I heard a pounding that sounded like someone was hammering a nail into wood so I go to my backyard windows to see a bird hammering away at my house. Then there is the coo cooing all day long by a lost pigeon.  What's up?

Skywatch Utah

Linking to skywatch friday.

Turkeys in the sheep pasture

 I caught a reflection.

 I guess you know where these turkeys will be on Thanksgiving.  My neighbor who lives down the hill had them in with their sheep for a few months.

 It is almost like I captures flying saucers - not really but reflections of white disks.

My granddaughter's cake with reflections of candles.

Linking to Good Fences
and Weekend Reflections

I've been very busy making Christmas jewelry.  Actually, my first Christmas showing in six years. One time I made candy canes but that was about it.

 Fat soldiers, I made some skinny ones too but there is always a plump one around too.

 Sea charm brace with an octopus. How did they become popular all of a sudden?

I love the little red Christmas trees.  I've made them in Green too. Check out my Etsy shop: Dians Gems

Around Town

Linking to:  Good Fences
and Weekend Reflections

It is not often we see a dune buggy in the parking lot. The sand dunes are not close to this area of Utah. There are some about 40 miles west of us.

 Fence, fall and clouds - a perfect day for taking photos.

 I get so intrigued by the clouds that cover the mountain peaks and they always have a different look.

This church is found in Logan, Utah.

The Cottonwood Mall

In my memory it wasn't that long ago when the very first mall, The Cottonwood Mall, was built in Salt Lake City.  I was a teen then and it was our favorite place to go. It was far more exciting to visit the mall than to go downtown Salt Lake City where all the stores were spaced so far apart.  Actually, Salt Lake suffered from that mall because shoppers on the east side would flock to the mall for ease of parking and no parking fees.

It was about 20 years ago that someone bought the mall intending to update it to compete with the now five malls in the Salt Lake valley.  We all waited and waited and nothing happened. They tore down all the buildings except for ZCMI which is now Macy's.

I took a little drive over there a couple of weeks ago to see what was left and sure enough, Macy's was there all by itself with a large parking lot.

Beyond the fence is the area where the rest of the mall used to be, now only weeds.  So sad!

 In the background is grand Mt. Olympus at 9,026 feet.

I tried taking a photo into the sun;  hard to see the fence but it is there by those trees. This area used to be the prima donna of the valley because there were so many trees and beautiful homes.

Linking to: Good Fences
and  weekend Reflections

Driving in traffic, I wanted to get a photo of that red car but that is even harder than texting in the car which I don't do.

Long Horn Cows

Linking to: Good Fences
and Weekend Reflections