Maybe I Was a Genealogist in the Womb?

Last weekend, my Aunt Shirley (my dad's sister-in-law) sent me a church bulletin for Linwood Presbyterian church in Kansas City, Missouri. From December 4, 1926. The reason for her sending it to me is the mention of my father in the Cradle Roll. By the time this was published, Frank "Hank" Percival was about 17 months old. It is sometimes hard for me to imagine the gruff man my father could be as a baby. It's funny as I scan down the list, I see a few surnames that stick out: Bowman, Kirtley*, Estes, Sevier and Francisco. Certainly, those last names can all be found in our family line.

The curious thing, is that I've always had a "thing" for church bulletins. As a child, I always scanned the church bulletin from St. Robert Bellarmine's church in Redford, Michigan for mention of people whom I might know. My favorite was the "Heirs of Christ" column, which listed the weekly baptisms. I'm really sorry I didn't keep a few of them. I think they would be fun to read and see if I still remembered any of those names!

*The particular Kirtley mentioned, Geraldine, is indeed listed in our family history! Isn't that fun!

Just Sittin' Around

All but two minor things and one major thing left to do for the landscaping. The minor things are to plant some creeping jenny and some phlox that I have in two different colors. Unfortunately, the last 3 days we have begun to catch some of the rain that has plagued Arkansas. I hope that ends before Younger Daughter makes the 600 mile trek down here. The major project is to add a stone patio out back and - of course - that will have to wait until after the rains and after younger daughter's visit.

Younger Daughter is coming of course, for Older Daughter's graduation from Tennessee Tech University next Saturday. Older Daughter is prepping for the three days of finals she has this week. I think she is pumped and more than ready to pick up that degree with the 1274 other graduates. In a hot indoor stadium. In May. In Tennessee.

Yesterday, while enjoying my morning coffee in my office while reading blogs, answering email and listening to an audiobook on my mp3 player, I watched the birds. In Michigan, I was used to the cardinals and robins, blue jays, wrens, sparrows, doves, chickadees and the occasional finch.

Here, there have been quite a few I've been unable to identify by sight. One turns out to be a rose-breasted grosbeak and the other I assumed correctly was an eastern bluebird. So it turns out that not only I am enjoying the bird station out front, but so are the neighborhood squirrels and cats.

DH and I have gotten hooked on the new Doctor Who series on BBC. When we were much younger, we were hooked on the original series before it was cool. We actually started watching last year and caught the 4th season, which is on hiatus until 2010. For Christmas, we bought ourselves Season 1 of the current incarnation - David Tennant. For my birthday- DH got me the first season with Christopher Eccleston. Something besides laundry and house work on a rainy day!

Sometimes Things Come Together

Well, outside of the weather, looks like things are looking up around here.

Wednesday evening, despite the computer turmoil, I managed to make a delicious dinner of roasted red potatoes and grilled chicken.

Thursday, finally was able to purchase the pine straw we wanted for our landscaping. DH thought I was nuts when I told him a 14" x 14" x 28" bale would cover a 50 square foot area. So we bought 3 bales, keeping in mind that about one-third of our landscaping project was tree trunk. We ended up using two bales out front which left the third bale around the deck. I still have some left.

Today - actually starting around 4 am, we started getting some much needed rain. Someone can now turn off the spigot please. It's keeping the birdbaths full and I am enjoying my bird station out front from my office. Now I just have to find a book on Tennessee birds!

Also today - DH picked up his repaired recliner before the storms hit. It is STILL raining here and I fear the feet will develop webs again. Sigh.