Update

Started a genealogy blog. Thought it might be easier to post that way. http://stella-justgenealogy.blogspot.com/

Nature in the City

Yesterday Quentin came over and we took Joco for a walk. It was windy, but I wanted to take some pictures anyway, and I wanted to use the Big Lens. Using that lens means I have to hold very still. A bit of a problem in the wind, but I defied logic and took it anyway, so I got a lot of blurred pictures. But it was really fun anyway.



The little doves above were just outside my kitchen window. I almost didn't see them because they blended so well into the tree.



I wish this guy wasn't blurred. He looks like he's making a face.



I love Dandilions and those little purple weeds. I wish everyone did. It would make yard work so much easier. These were in the park where they've left nature to do her thing. Nature is smarter than us.



Mallards are everywhere in Minnesota. This guy was just across the street from the light rail. He couldn't be bothered by the traffic.



I think this looks like a little fairy world, and by the magic of Photoshop, it will be!



Pretty flowers on a bush. I don't know what they are.



We think we can defy nature. Ha!

Animal House

Leo, Pepita and Guinness

The start of a usual morning in our house. The sun comes in the living room window in the mornings and the cats soak it up.


Plus Joco

This is a few minutes later, when Joco is done making his trips outdoors. He doesn't like it when I use the flash. Where do the humans sit? Good question.

Emma's Journal Part 1

Emma Laura Lyford, nee Hendrickson 1860 -1926

I'm posting My great great grandmother's journal as I transcribe it for those who are interested. The Journal spans from September 18th 1919 to September 1st 1921. Handwriting has changed since then and I can't always figure out the words. Needless to say this will take forever.

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Sept 18th Thurs. Edward + Minnie (Edward Albert and Minnie May Konantz. Minnie is Emma’s Sister.) came up from St. Paul – called for me – we then went to Plaza for Anne + Florence. (Anne Lucretia Hendrickson, nee Ward, and her daughter, Florence Melvine Hendrickson. Anne is Emma’s brother, Eugene’s Wife.) Left the Plaza about 9:20AM for Park Rapids Minn. Went out Lyndale Av. – 6th Av N. – 20th Av. Crystal Lake Av to Robbinsdale – Osseo – Dayton – St Cloud – Little Falls - Staples – Wadena- Sebeka – Menahga – to Park Rapids – A_?_ at 8 P.M. 200 miles – Stopped for picnic dinner and supper. A glorious day – roads + drive. Stopped at Great Northern Hotel.


Great Northern Hotel

Sept 19th Fri. Sunny + Cooler – Minnie brought leather coat – Florence leather coat – khaki breeches + hat. Mr. Freitag, (or Froeitag) of Bank invite us in his Ford out to (Grawdbold’s?) log camp on Bottle Lake, from which it is ¼ mile walk to Mantrap Lake. Mr. and Mrs. A_?_ Crosby overtook us here this P.M.

Sept 20th Sat. Stayed in camp all day excepting walking _?_ to Mantrap Lake – M. + Edw. Went fishing – no luck. I did not go out in _?_ - _?_ - as my knees aching.

Page 2


Douglas Lodge

Sept 21st Sunday Beautiful cool day frost – last night – foliage turning rapidly. Skunk under house! At 9 o’clock we left for Lake Itasca. I rode with the Crosbys. Went to Douglas Lodge at one end of Itasca Lake - there about 3 miles at it’s outlet – about 10 ft wide, which is the source of the Mississippi River – flows north at first- Had our lunch here near the Totem Pole – on which is much data – as 2000 acres in Itasca Park. First white man here _ After lunch we drove to Bemidji. Had fine dinner at the Hotel Mark have went to the movies (one too many) Best was Madje Kennedy in “Strictly Confidential”

Sept 22 Mon. Left Bemidji at 9 AM – drove past Birchmount Hotel + Golf Grounds. Next through several hours and finally put on chains to go to through Rosy – Heavy going. After leaving there nearly turned over into ditch while passing a car – Had to get _?_?_ to pull out the car – lost _?_ hours. After lunch (fine steaks) at Summit in a cemetery - After lunch started for deer river – After Mr. Crosby changed Direction of sign and

Page 3

Followed the wrong road, passing through or over, Winnibigoshish Dam - struck a very bad swamp road and lost one spare tire.

A Little Whine.

It's raining... no wait!... it's sunny!... no.... it's raining... Oh WHATEVER. Gardening is not going to happen today. I can see that now. I got out there for 5 minutes. The sun was out and I just got going and... it rained. I give. Mother Nature wins this one. I think she must bipolar. That would explain a lot.

It's sunny out again. I'm not going to fall for it.

Work, Jehovah Witnesses and Reality

I have a strong desire today to live in fantasy land. I'd like to sit and work on genealogy and ignore my work. It's not just genealogy, although that is the obsession for today. Producing art, music, taking Joco for a very long walk and reading books have all made it into my fantasies. Reality, though, keeps calling. It's a lot like the Jehovah Witnesses knocking on my door this morning. Both keep coming back and insisting that I believe in a life devoid of holidays, vacations and money. They just won't go away. Luckily I can just ignore the Jehovah Witnesses. Reality is another matter.

Bills need to be paid. Living in reality and spending the day working is the only way to accomplish that. The Lottery just won't give up it's magic numbers. *sigh* Oh well, I guess I better get to it.

Cousin Monika, Me, My mother Inge, sister Andrea, My grandmother (my Oma), cousin Thomas

Yesterday morning I woke up to an email from my father. It's hard to explain how good it is to have a parent like this. Even this late in life it has a healing effect.

Later that morning my daughter Pam emailed, and for lunch I met with my son, Quentin. When I got home my cousin Monika had joined facebook. Edwin was home on break from rehearsal and we had time to talk, then we both had to leave, much to Joco's dismay, and I rode my bike over to my cousin Randy's house to work on genealogy.

His daughter, Stella (yes, that's right) was there. She's turning twelve today. I met her before when her grandmother died, now she is twice the size. She's 4' 8" and destined to make it to at least 6". We connected immediately and have exchanged email addresses and phone numbers. She sent me home with a model of a hydrogen peroxide molecule made with marshmallows. How could I not love her?


Emma Hendrickson Lyford

Randy (Randall) had two boxes of pictures, papers and letters. I felt like I was handling gold. There were letters to my great grandmother Stella (yes, that's right too.) from her daughter Janet. Pictures of my grandmother Jayne and, I think, a picture of my grandfather LeRoy!!! Randy scanned it for me, but it got lost on his computer. I'm hoping he finds it soon! I want to compare it to the one picture of him I have. The time period is right, and he is standing next to my grandmother in a group portrait in Omaha. It's so exciting for me! Oh, and Holly, there was a picture of Melvine! I came home with a diary of my great, great grandmother's (Emma Lyford, nee Hendrickson) to transcribe!

Randy gave me a ride home and saved my poor legs a trip back home. It was my first bike ride since last fall and boy, did I feel it. Five miles was a bit much for the first time out. Edwin was back and Joco was pleased. I am also pleased. I never thought I would find myself so surrounded by family. It feels good.