Aye Karumba!

Taken from doorway of the store 3 days ago.

We are into day 3 of the Lake Erie Snow effect storm.  We have 30 inches of  snow...much higher drifts.....
and NO SNOW PLOW GUY ....poor Robert he was plowing my cousins driveway yesterday and someone swerved to miss him and an other man in a pic up T-Boned Robert.  
Well snowplowing in emergency situation comes at a premium in these parts.  One plow for ER plow $150.00 .  Gheez  I am in the wrong biz.   
I wouldn't  worry about the plowing but I have  the open house this Saturday and I  am really..really....nervous.  Tim says it will be OK.   I think we should buy a used pick up and a plow.  I don't want to be stuck like this.   
I have made a few more Christmas themed items and  I've done lots of baking.
I should have started this post  by thanking all of you for your thoughtful  comments and e-mails  about my cat SU who passed away Saturday.  Her twin sister, Mia, is very lonely and calls for SU at certain times of the day....sad.
Well folks think good thoughts for me that the snow stops and I can get a reasonable plow or that Robert is back in business by Friday.
Keep Warm!!!

A Sad Little House

Would this make a  great prim cottage ?   This little house has been in my thoughts since May.  I  was bitten by  the genealogy bug to find the property that my  great-great grandparents owned.   I have the maps with the land owners...however things change over the years....new roads and new developments.  I have hope that "our" farmhouse dating from at  least 1838   is still in existence.  Fortunately,  Music Street still has many, many fantastic New England style old homes from the 1820's.  Thankfully,  they are now well kept horse farms. .......but this little house pictured ..not so lucky...it is circa 1832, or 178 years of age.   If only I had a wallet filled with a lot of dead presidents wrapped  with a bungee cord.   I hope this  Prim Cottage gets  some love ....soon!

Saps A Risin' and a New Blog

Wow! We had 24 inches of snow on the ground last weekend and this weekend snow's gone  It was 69 degreesWednesday!  That means it's Maple time in Geauga County.  Chardon is known for being the snowbelt capital of Ohio as well as the Maple Capital of Ohio.  Tim and I celebrated Tappin'Sunday with pancakes and the local liquid gold. Yummo! Maple Festival will be the end of April!

My family had been in the area maple industry since the 1830's.  Here is a picture of Grandpa  in the 1930's .
Notice the shirt and tie...maybe it was Sunday!
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Do you like seeing this kind of posting?  I have just opened up a new blog :... of Crenel and Thatched Roofs.  This will be about stories of life "back in the day".  I have had many emails from folks wanting a place just for my memorablia and stories...without the art.  I will post there when I have compiled a story to tell. Do you remember my past postings of the Civil War Diary and Lovina's Gift?   That is what  ...of Crenel and Thatched Roofs will include.... present day to medievil England.  You are more than welcome to step back in time with me!   You can  become a follower now....so you will be there when the next story happens.  ( I have not posted there yet.. this article will be lengthened and tweeked and then live there for evermore)  http://www.crenelsandthatchedroofs.blogspot.com/

Jay C., James A., Jelly and Jam

Jay C. Smith was my great-grand uncle. Born in Ira, Caynga County, New York, April 28, 1838 to Aretus Gregory and Keturah (Davis) Smith. Jay was the fifth of ten children.
I became interested in Jay as I am in possession of his diary. I have posted the last entries made to his diary which you can find below. He did not die on the battle field in a grueling battle...but he died in an Army Hospital of disease. His words are few but in reading his last words I can feel the cold and see the bleakness that surrounded him. Feel the warmth of the fire that he took refuge in when his own hospital bed was frozen.
Company B of the 41st OVI Regiment was formed in Geauga County, Ohio. Henry W. Johnson and L. T. Patchin went from village to village, neighborhood to neighborhood, with the flag flying, to the step of a fife and drum....this was grass roots recruitment. Jay C. Smith at the age of 23 entered the service for the Battle of the Rebellion, August 20, 1861.
Can you see these men walking with the flag?...Can you hear the fife and drum?
Can you see the anxious faces of young farm boys ready and able to fight for their country?
I am sure Jay started recording his Army days on August 20,1861. I don't have any proof that an earlier diary existed but I think it did. Even when Jay was very sick he made entries everyday without fail.
What else can I learn from Jay's diary? Tucked in the back slot is a teaching certificate dated 1858.... so he was a teacher...maybe. A few newspaper clippings one for "Cottage Pudding and Sauce" and "Buttermilk Pudding with Maple Syrup" and "Apple Jelly"... Many hand written recipes are in the last 8 pages of the little book. The writing appears to be that of my great grandmother Lodiska, sister to Jay.
Interesting recipes.... maybe I will post some of these. Tomato Pickles, Ginger Snaps, Sponge Cake, Mince Pie, Fruit Cake, Lemon Pie, Spiced Peaches, ( Note: My Mom made these are they were the best). I can get lost in "olde time" recipes.
The Smith family is buried in South Newbury Cemetery. This was a bustling farm community at one time. James Abram Garfield (later our 20th president) spoke at the Union Chapel at South Newbury. This is a great bit of history....Garfield was barred from speaking at the Congregational Church...the parishioners did not think it was proper to speak of politics in the house of the Lord.
In 1856, the people of South Newbury built the Union Chapel,dedicated to free speech...... across the road from the Church. The walls of this small yet mighty building heard the voices of James A. Garfield, Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone, Louisa M. Alcott, Theodore Parker, the advocate of the 8 hour working day, and John B. Gough, three time candidate for president on the Prohibition ticket. Wow! Wow! and Wow!
Field Trip....7 miles from our front door! Here is what we found: