Cookies be damned!

We did Christmas. It went well, and hopefully we'll do it again next year.  

Seriously, it was lovely.  There were plenty of sweets, and good meals.  There are still absurd amounts of cookies left over, but there is also ham.  

I have this fantasy of throwing all the cookies away and reclaiming my life. Honestly, I've been fairly good about limiting my Christmas cookie consumption this year. I know myself, though. I could break down any minute and start eating non-stop. Thankfully I had blood drawn last month. Although I seem healthy, sugar is high and protein is low. I am trying to behave. I want to behave. Maybe this year I actually will?

I sent my Christmas present boxes to family and friends this year.  I included those little cocktail umbrellas and fake leis in the boxes.  I think the umbrellas were the biggest hit with young and old.  

Here's one of my friends without a face

Still working on my tree.

It isn't our Christmas tree I'm still working on. That can wait! It's that damn family tree of mine on ancestry.com. If you remember, I wrote a post last summer about the rating on my ridiculously large family tree. In early April it was only rated 7.9. I was mortified!  I vowed to bring it up to 9.1.  

I work on it almost every day. Sometimes for hours. There were nearly 64,000 people in it when I started "fixing things." At that time there were about 45,000 people who had issues needing to be resolved, duplicates merged, finding real proof for documentation, or fixing errors. I have to confess, I had no real concept of fixing 45,000 profiles when I started. I just know I've given it my all for 8 months and I have only touched half of those profiles.  

I have deleted 4,000 people who really have no real relationship to me, I just added them because I'm a fiend.  

As of today, my rating for that tree is 9.0. I still have 23,249 people profiles to resolve if I want a perfect rating. Yep, 23,249! Sheesh. As if! When I reach my goal of 9.1 (any freaking day now!), I will be happy.  

I say that trying to convince myself. This is the most fun I've had in many years. I'll never stop.

My mother's tree in 1970

Thanksgiving 2025

I spent 3 days preparing for this holiday. That sounds like I worked myself to death, but I didn't. I stretched out the cleaning, cooking, baking over 3 full days. It worked out well, plus I was then able to enjoy the process. Our daughter brought the dessert and her own stuffing (gluten free), so that helped. Of course, as a retiree I actually had the time to stretch it all out. That's one of the things I was thankful for this year.   

I'm thankful as well for our small family which is not perfect by any means. We are each quirky in our own ways, but we come together with love and acceptance of each other's quirkiness. Personally, I appreciate that lack of judgement, because I'm a bit much. As Carlene Carter once sang, "We are the lucky ones."  

Out and about

You wouldn't know it to look at me, but my husband and I try to get exercise of some kind most days. Maybe we ride our bikes, take a walk, or work in the yard. Occasionally, we'll go to Cosco and pretend that's exercise because it's so damn big to walk around in. 

In the hot half of the year we go out in the morning, as early as we are able, to avoid the intense heat and potential skin damage. At this time of the year we can enjoy our mornings being self-indulgent because it's cool enough to go outside in midday or later. I'm not a morning person, so I prefer the cooler half of the year.

Yesterday we went for a walk at the nature preserve and I took these pictures.

Turtle

Many things on or near the lake

Roots

Vulture

I'm not sure what this is

Lantana

Looks like deadly nightshade to me

What does it take?

I know this world is filled with hate and meanness, but that's only half of it. We exist in duality and we need to also imagine a better world and work to make it better. We can all do something to elevate humanity, to change the world. 

Some have the means to run for office, or give millions to help the poor. Some of us can't. But don't despair, small acts of kindness make a difference, too. There are so many things we could easily do to make the world a better place. Most are not flashy, but it all adds up. Contribute to a food bank. Use less plastic. Vote blue. Don't allow family or friends make racist or sexist remarks in your house. Take a stand. What else?

Patty Smith on the Late Show a few nights ago!!!

Religious prejudice

I come from a long line of working-class Catholics (mother's side) and Protestants (father's side). My paternal grandmother was first a Baptist, but joined a Pentecostal church later. She could talk in tongues and taught bible study for children. Cool, but kinda scary.

My Tennessee Grandma was the best person I ever knew. She told me that she once chased the devil out of her house because he was trying to turn her against Jesus. Yeah, I know, sounds a little fanciful. I'll tell you what, though, if anyone could pull off a caper like that it was her.

She was a die hard Democrat until JFK ran for president - my Grandpa made them both switch to Republican because he hated Catholics. She was raised to submit to her husband as the head of the household. Plus, I'm sure her pastor was raising (un)holy hell over a Catholic trying to get elected president.

Scotch Irish Appalachians have hated Papists since John Knox left the priesthood to follow John Calvin in the 16th century. The Reformation was sadly necessary because of the corruption of 16th century Catholicism. In fact, the Catholics reciprocated and behaved just as badly. Wars were fought, people killed, men glorified, women diminished. If there turns out to be a divine force we call God, I'm sure s/he is perfect. People are not, though. I can't put my faith in religion. Faith is too precious and important for man-made constructs.

It hurt my heart to realize Grandpa hated Catholics, because at time I was a soft hearted Catholic school girl. Grandma found ways to let us know she knew Catholics were still Christian, and that Grandpa was too harsh. Grandma's God was a loving God. Grandpa's was a God of fire and brimstone. As a fully indoctrinated Catholic, this made me think about the limitations of dogma at the tender age of 9. I expanded my concept of spirituality because I loved my Grandma. I found ways to let her know she wouldn't go to Limbo* for not being baptized Catholic, ha. It's ridiculous looking back on these religious prejudices. It's hard to believe they still exist, but I'm afraid they do.

It's the nature of our reality that evil has always existed in this world, and always will. We have to choose to walk away from it in our own lives, but it still exists out there. Sometimes people are fooled if they don't exercise their mind and search for the truth. Grandma might have voted for Donald Trump the first time, because he pretended to be anti-abortion and folks were preaching conservative politics from the pulpit. However, I'm confident she would not have supported him a second time. Why? Because he's a liar and a cheat. He's filled with hate and tries to spread it around. Grandma knew the difference between good and evil.

Sometimes good people come together, regardless of 
propoganda, dogma, or belief systems

*Limbo re Wikipedia: "The unofficial term Limbo /ˈlɪmboʊ/ (from Latin limbus 'edge, boundary', referring to the edge of Hell) is the afterlife condition in medieval Catholic theology, of those who die in original sin without being assigned to the Hell of the Damned."

Paying Forward

I went to the grocery store the other day. I had about $116 worth of food, and went to the check-out lane. A friendly older woman was working the register, and the bagger was a high school boy. We exchanged pleasantries, and then it was time to pay. I reached into my purse to pay and in horror realized I didn't have my credit card. As you can imagine, I was distraught. 

I told them I only lived about 10 minutes away and asked if they could put my bags in the cooler until I returned with my card. They were very sweet to me, but I was humiliated.  

Suddenly, a woman in the next check-out lane walked over and announced she would pay. I tried to talk her out of it, but she insisted. She told me to consider myself blessed. What can one do when confronted by an actually good religious person? I pulled the 3 packages of Halloween candy out of the cart and asked the bagger if he could put them back for me. I would accept her kindness, but I wasn't going to take advantage. I joked that she was for sure going to heaven for this act of kindness, and she laughed. I thanked her profusely, as one does when they are embarrassed. I promised her I would "pay it forward" and do the same for someone else. 

The very next day I returned to buy the Halloween candy. The woman in front of me in the check-out couldn't get her card to work, and was upset. Something was wrong. I uneasily recognized her humiliation. I stepped up and paid her bill. It was $118, almost the same as mine from the previous day. When she tried to dissuade me, I told her my own story and that the amount was virtually the same. She accepted and promised to pay it forward. Wow!   

And if you think this is all about the goodness of white people, think again. The only white people in this narrative were me and the high school boy.  

No Kings, Clermont, Lake County, Florida, 18Oct2025

Me, sitting down on a picnic table in the
back, because I had pneumonia a few
weeks ago.

 

Feeling better

Yesterday was my last antibiotic.  I'm feeling better, but I am Oh So Tired!  I suspect it will be weeks before I feel like myself again.  In the meantime, I sleep.  

Sick and tired

I've been sick for over a week now.  Nothing major, but started with chills, slight fever, fatigue.  I tested negative for both flu and COVID, but still it hung on.  After 5 days I went to a clinic, who determined me dehydrated and sent me to the hospital's ER.  There they hooked me up to an IV of fluids, and started doing bloodwork, scans, etc.  A chest x-ray revealed a spot of infection in my right upper chest which they determined was pneumonia.  This is how my poor mind remembers it all anyway.  I actually had an EKG that I can't even remember having. Which is strange, because I never really felt out of it. I remember the chest x-ray, and I remember a CT Scan. But I don't remember the EKG.  So, I could be explaining it wrong, but this is the best I can do with a muddy mind.  

Pneumonia is a scary word, and for good reason. But if mine were a bad case, they would have admitted me to the hospital.  I'm taking it as a good sign that they sent me home. 

I'm definitely getting better after a few days of antibiotics.  Staying hydrated!!!  I never thought I'd say this, but I look forward to feeling well enough to clean my house.  

Busy

I no longer enjoy being busy, although I was happy being busy when I was a working person.  Multi-tasking, rushing around, talking to a lot of people was all fun.  I was proud of all I could accomplish.  I'm not sure I ever relaxed, because when I came home there was cooking, cleaning, and shopping to do.  Early on there was child-care as well.  It's all a blur.  It was an important time, a time for productivity.  I'm glad it's over.  

The War of the Roses

I have not seen that new "Roses" movie, but I intend to. However, this isn't about that.

Coincidentally, I have been reading a book called The Wars of the Roses: The fall of the Plantagenets and the rise of the Tudors by Dan Jones.  It is a history, not a novel.  I have a sincere interest in history, especially concerning Europe. Why? I dunno. Maybe that should be a separate post.

Jones writes compellingly for nosy civilians like me. The book is action-packed, revealing the nature, intention, and driving force behind actions of flawed yet formidable rulers. Men, and a few women, who knew few (if any) limits to their egos and lust for power. The world benefited from the best of them. Not just in Europe, but across the world we survived the worst of them, but not without historical regression and decreased virtue.

Sounds modern, doesn't it?  Why don't we evolve into wise and just people? The human race could get by making mistakes in the past.  Now, I'm not so sure. 

"Plucking the Red and White Roses in the Old Temple Gardens" after the original 1910 fresco painting by Henry Albert Payne (British, 1868-1940) based upon a scene in Shakespeare's Henry VI, the original in the Palace of Westminster and a later similar painting by Payne in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, this print marked "copyright 1912 in London & Washington by "The Fine Art Publishing Co., Ltd. London"

An old favorite (sandwich)

My husband introduced me to things like mayonnaise and butter after we married. My family had more plebeian tastes. We used Miracle Whip and margarine. 

I ate tomato sandwiches when I was a child, consisting of white bread, tomato, and Miracle Whip. I loved them. I've tried eating these as an adult on our robust multi-grain bread with mayo, but it's just not the same.  

My grandson prefers white bread, so I had some in the freezer. This morning I decided to make myself a tomato sandwich with that white bread. What a disappointment! Maybe mayonnaise isn't sweet enough? It just wasn't what I remembered. It also wasn't the least bit filling. 

Sometimes childhood favorites don't hold up well. Our tastes evolve. Don't even get me started on Velveeta grilled "cheese" sandwiches. 

Who invented the piano?

I was trying to nap yesterday, and of course when a mind is quiet thoughts sneak in. Our grandson is taking drum lessons, and he is also learning the xylophone in the school band. Percussion. My husband (Tom) recently told me piano is also a percussion instrument. I found myself wondering "Who invented the piano?" I gave up on my nap and went outside to sit next to Tom. I was sure he'd know.  

He didn't know "who" but he launched into an interesting effusion of musical facts related to the piano, and modern western music, tuning, keys, chords and even Bach.  I never learned an instrument, so I don't have a firm grasp of musical nomenclature.  The terms don't resonate with me, but I think I understood the gist of it all.  Maybe.

I still wanted to know who invented the piano, so I googled it.  AI, currently still an obedient servant, told me this:

"The piano was invented around the year 1700 by Italian instrument maker Bartolomeo Cristofori, who developed the pianoforte, an instrument capable of producing both soft and loud dynamics by using hammers to strike the strings instead of plucking them. The term "pianoforte" was eventually shortened to "piano" and is the basis for the modern instrument we know today."

Now I'm wondering what "Cristofori" means in Italian?  

Feelin' good

It is 10:11 a.m. and we just got back home from a bike ride.  I only had one cup of coffee before we left, and I have a second cup to enjoy now.  The rest of the day is unplanned and before me.  I must confess I always dread going for a bike ride; however, when I'm actually on the trail I'm happy.  

I feel virtuous, free, and unencumbered at this very moment.  It won't last, but damn!  These simple moments are divine.

Azaleas in a forest up north

 

Evolutionary degeneration?

How can so many people believe the lies being spread by this administration? I can understand the liars. They are pretty transparent. For whatever reason, a liar has a specific purpose for concocting their lies. 

What I can't understand are the people who choose to believe such whopping untruths only based on the statements of a convicted felon, a proven liar, someone who hates just about everyone else. Why do his followers want to believe his lies?  Are they afraid of him?  Do they want his approval?  Do his lies justify their own hatred and prejudices? 

It is a choice, believing without proof; a weakness, not a strength. His statements are never proven, never include facts. He just throws this stuff out there, after mulling over his hatred and jealousy until he comes up with a way to hurt something or somebody. He demands loyalty as the justification for belief. Loyalty versus proof. There's something seriously wrong with that. 

How does believing and jumping on board with the lie, even without proof, suit THEIR purpose? People are innocent until proven guilty. Just because someone you "believe in" says something doesn't make it true. Just because you dislike someone doesn't make their statements lies, either.  As discerning beings, we should consider the source, the facts, and the circumstances. Again, why do they want to believe his lies?  We know what his lies say about him, but what does believing them say about his followers?

I will be so sad when the burden of proof is no longer the norm in this country, when facts no longer matter. We will all be slightly less human as a result. 

Rating my efforts

I started my family tree looking for a 5th great-grandmother. She was the first wife of a man whose grandfather was a German iron worker. He and a community of friends came from Siegen, Germany to Virginia in 1714, escaping religious persecution. The Catholics were doing the persecuting in that part of Germany then. Their church was German Reformed. I think that religious institutions is/was more closely related to John Calvin than Martin Luther?  

Anyway, my 5th great grandfather Jesse (1759-1843) had 9 children with his first wife, and 7 children with his second wife.  The first wife is mine. I want to know her and claim her. I swear I've been looking for her for at least 30 years.  

I suspect her name was Mary, based on the recurrence of the name in her children's family. I've been chasing surnames related to family from that time looking for her. It was an obsession. I've slacked off a bit, accepting the limitations of female records 1700s, but I still get excited when I find a woman born the appropriate time in either Fauquier Co, Virginia, or Rowan County, North Carolina.  

My tree is large. In April it had close to 64,000 people in it. Yeah, I know. Because of my large ego, original intent, and frenetic searching techniques I didn't bother documenting "married-in" people were only markers. My documentation efforts were spent on people who I actually descended from, and their families.  

Recently ancestry.com instituted a rating system. I was dismayed to find my tree only rated a 7.9 on April 3, 2025. I had 4,104 dupes, 33,939 with only other tree references to back them up, 6,964 entries with no documentation, and 2,626 errors. Sheesh. So embarrassing.

I've since committed to documenting the undocumented, merging dupes, and paying attention to errors. As of the July 11th update I've brought the rating to 8.5. Now I only have 3200 dupes, 25,000 tree only, 4,558 no documentation, and 2,502 errors. Slow going!

It is impossible to get reliable documentation for some, especially women, and children who died young. However, I won't give up until my tree has a 9.1 rating. That seems reasonable for such a large, wide-ranging family tree. Obsessive seems to be my middle name.

This is the oldest tree in my town

4th of July

We are having the family over for a bbq today.  The usual 4th of July fare, hamburgers and potato salad.  There will be side dishes, of course.  Daughter M requested cosmopolitans and who am I to disagree?  There's nothing better than a pink drink.

I fell in my garden yesterday trying to cut back spent cannas. This is the rainy season in Central Florida and the ground is mushy.  I was barefoot and couldn't maintain my balance.  I fell slowly and fully aware of the ridiculousness of it, right into the cannas.  Then I had more to prune, as so many stems were broken.  I fell on my right arm and now it hurts.  Not so badly that I can't still cook and clean for company.  Oh well.  

I am so not proud of the Divided States of America right now.  But I live in hope, with a side of fear. 

Fighting the good fight.

Tom and I went to a No Kings protest and march last Saturday. We could have gone to a big one in Orlando, but we hate driving in that traffic towards Orlando. Instead we went to a small city a bit north of us. I'm glad we went. For a small city like Apopka, FL, it was a great turnout. Someone said it was 500 people, and since these things are always exaggerated and so hard to determine, I'd say there were about 400.

Many thousands attended in Orlando. There were about 75 protests across Florida alone. Wikipedia says across the country"more than 5 million people in more than 2,100 cities and towns" in every state showed up.  How amazing is that?  

What really gets me are the pictures of maybe 7 - 12 people who showed up and protested in little teeny redneck cities. SO brave. I could almost imagine how hard their hearts were pounding.  

That's my very cute husband carrying the green sign about a third in from the right that says 

"Fight Ignorance, not Immigrants"  

Grass grows sideways here

When we moved down to Florida in 2014, I experienced many culture and environmental shocks.  One such shock was how different the grass is.  It isn't the dainty, slim, soft grass of the north.  It is most certainly not soft.  Some grows up to be mowed, but it also grows sideways via runners.  These runners are greedy little monsters, always looking to spread and establish themselves.  One must admire this tenacity and will to grow.  I would be more sympathetic to it if it wasn't trying to take over my sidewalk and driveway.  

Edging is not a suburban vanity down here.  It is essential if you don't want the grass to grow over the sidewalks or narrow the street.  Mowing is Tom's job.  Edging is mine.  I must admit, the violent thug that lives somewhere deep in my psyche enjoys herself when edging.

I believe I have written about this before, but now I have the perfect picture to show you all.  It was so satisfying to cut those off with my handy dandy edger.