Tag: Catching Up on The News

Posted in Sunday Report

The Return of the Sunday Reporter

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Hey, kids! I hope you’re doing well, weathering the changes peacefully. I retreated for a month in September, staying away from all but essential outside intrusion, practicing the Presence in nature and in my natural habitat, my home. Though I had a Big Wake-up to News experience while at Disney World recently, I found that grounding myself intensely during that month allowed me to maintain my detachment, staying present in a way that intensified the FUN we had.

I’m working on a nice video, but here’s a quick preview of my gorgeous grandies and some cool characters…

Observant readers may notice that Casey looks different in the above picture, and not just in the aging-old-dude way. Check it out — after 5 years, he cut his hair…

Before
After

I feel like I have a new husband!

During my break from writing this column, I’ve written Nothing. Oh, I made several lists, took notes on some lectures I’ve listened to, and devised an ad for FB Marketplace, but my urge to compose some lofty prose has dried up like the leaves rustling through the yard.

Driving down to Disney we stopped at an RV park, situated ourselves near the restrooms. What we didn’t realize is that the doors required a code, and there was no one in the office to give it to us. It was uncomfortable and I determined that we should sell Goldie and stop acting like we still have the travel trailer (after 5 years, you’d think I’d learn). After our return from Florida, Casey cleaned her all up, put her out in the yard with a For Sale sign, and she sold in less than 24 hours. Truly, Goldie was one-of-a-kind and we had many great adventures in her. We still have our drive-around-town cars, but will probably look around for something newer soon.

I’m prepping for Allhallowtide – the 3-day observation of All Hallow’s Eve, All Saints, and All Souls Days. I prefer to call it Dia de los Muertes and I am setting up an Altar of Ancestors to Remember and Celebrate, decorating with flowers, planning a meal of harvest food, and watching Coco for inspiration.

Check back in next week to join the festivities!!!

Peace

Posted in Catching Up with The News

Did you miss me?

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Of course, you did! It’s been over a month since I regaled you with News from Sonnystone Acres, and I apologize for leaving you hanging there, waiting with bated breath, wondering what’s goin’ on in my fascinating life.

We started November out by celebrating the Days of the Dead aka All Saints/Souls Days at the Marion Church Cemetery. I’d been up there with my brother a couple of weeks earlier and had noticed that many of my ancestors’ graves were quite black. We did some research on gravestone cleaning and spent a few hours there using Wet ‘n Forget. I made some videos telling the stories of the people buried under the graves we were cleaning, namely my great-uncles Chester and Herbert, and great-aunt Nellie. The next day — seriously, the very next day — I discovered I had Aunt Nellie’s story All Wrong, so I’ll have to make a new video when we return. The WetnForget is supposed to work over time, and we’re excited to go back up there this week.

Researching my ancestors took up a lot of my time. I managed to publish a newly-revised bio of my great-great-great-grandfather, Benjamin Franklin Mayne on November 9, and moved on to my great-great grandparents, Emma and Leander. I thought I knew their whole story and would only be editing the previous version, but surprise! (no surprise) my research uncovered new info. Still a work in progress…

Cousin Lana and I attended the UE performance of the musical Rent on the 19th. They did a great job and the girls’ voices were impressive. We always enjoy the Sunday matinee; flat Ronna didn’t make the trip this time…

Thanksgiving was fun! The Jrs were here for the Macy’s Parade and some lunch….

My old man had a birthday, #69… He is such a baby, never catches up with me no matter how I try to lag behind and wait for him. Sure glad he was born…

December 2 found us (Casey, Samantha, and me) at the New Harmony Christmas Parade. A lot of firetrucks, tractors, and even a marching band this year! entertained us.

But The Grinch stole the show…

All this time, Wink has been giving us a lot of consternation. His eating slowed, he slept more, seemed out-of-it, but no real complaint or pain. By Thanksgiving, he couldn’t make it upstairs to his catbox anymore, so we moved it to our bedroom, but now he’s not pooped in ages and barely pees. He can no longer jump. He’s stopped eating, though we try to feed him anything we can think of. He does drink water. He can’t move his legs too well, but he insists on going out on the back porch every morning, even went out on the front porch the other evening. We look for any sign that he might get better, but at the ripe old age of 19 1/2 years, it’s doubtful. Because we’re leaving for NYC on the 14th, we feel like we have to make a decision on his future. We’re just so sad.

Sorry to leave you on that low note, but it’s Reality…and Reality bites. Thank goodness we’re in the Christmas Season and have family get-togethers and such to distract us. Who could be uncheery while watching the Rockettes?

Hope it’s Cheery in your neck of the woods…

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report

Catching up with The News…

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Life here at ‘stone has been pretty routine. Michael had a birthday, his 42nd, on September 3, but he doesn’t like fuss over his milestones. I did manage to snag him a pretty good present, the latest sold-out edition of the Disney game Lorcana, and he partied at a September Birthday bash with his in-laws, celebrating several family members’ big day at once.

Last week we got some heartbreaking news. If you’re a regular reader you’ll remember my Twin Cousin, Ronna; her husband of 43-years, Tom, died peacefully in his sleep, age 72. I’ve not been able to really talk with her, but she has been surrounded by their three daughters, as well as Tom’s siblings, and their many friends. (they live in Seabrook, Tx) I need to give her a hug, but for now I just send Love.

The Garden has slowly devolved and I brought in the last of the tomatoes and peppers yesterday, a fair amount of small green fruits that I’ll serve up on the equinox.

We planted peas on Labor Day and they are coming along well. I’ve got three buckets of arugula that is going to make some nice salads.

I harvested all of my basil, made some pesto and dried the rest. The other herbs — oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage, mint, lemon verbena, and marjoram — are still happily growing in their pots.

We took a mid-week trip to Ohio to visit the church founded in 1854 by my 4x great-grandfather, Adam Mayne. The building has been, of course, altered since then, but still sits in the same spot. There is also a cemetery where Adam was buried in 1857, possibly the first person to be buried there. Y’all know how much I love cemeteries and I was pretty excited to see this Major Patriarch’s gravesite, so imagine how bewildered I was to find that a tree – at least 50 years old — had grown up in the center of the Maynes’ headstones, a shrub had sprouted that added to the damage, covering several, and that the base of the tree was being used to throw broken limbs like it was a trash heap!!!

I was devastated. There were two guys working on the door of the church and I tried not to sound too hysterical when I expressed my dismay. They immediately recognized Adam’s name as their founder and took me inside to show me a glass case with a picture of Adam and Catherine, their bio, a picture of the original church, a plaque that honored him —

…but they didn’t take very good care of his grave…

One of the reasons I want to be cremated and my ashes spread around is because I believe that a gravesite becomes a responsibility of your descendants, but that’s a way old-fashioned idea and who knows what my 4x great-grandchildren will think? I regularly visit five burial grounds in Southern Illinois, some down gravel roads or in the middle of cornfields, As I’ve haunted the cemeteries, I’ve never seen one so neglected, outright violated like this one, and I am moved to correct the situation. Keep your fingers crossed that the church-people will let me, because I have a Plan…

The church/cemetery is about 5 miles from John Bryan State Park where we camped. It’s a nice park and adjacent to Yellow Springs, a busy little village with a Hippie Vibe, interesting shops and restaurants. There are various and sundry nature preserves, biking trails, and even springs–ha! As part of the Plan, we’ll be happy to stay there again.

As the Earth moves languidly toward the equinox, the days growing shorter and the humidity of summer clearing, it’s a good time for New Beginnings — just as the Jewish faith prescribes. The light changes as the Sun heads south, giving a visual change of view that can spark a soul change, if you need it, or want it. I’m breathing in the Peace and breathing out the Love toward All.

Peace

Posted in 2020, updates

Sunday Report

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Well, hey there, Sonnystoners!  It’s been a six weeks since I’ve reported the News from here at the Acres.  I hope you’re enjoying reading the Sonnystone Saga as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

Since the last report 42 days ago, my Aunt Shirley died.

Me and Aunt Shirley, February 25, 2020

If you’re a regular reader, you remember that she had her Dyin’ Party  back in June.  There was another fall after she returned to Florida and things went downhill.  She passed on August 13.  I was in close communication with the cousin who was her caregiver and the whole process has had me on the phone more than I have been in Years.  Talking on the phone drains me and I don’t know why I liked it so much in my younger years; maybe back then I had more energy to drain.

Just after Shirley’s death, we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary with a trip in the trailer to Harmonie State Park.  We’ve spent many an anniversary camping there and it’s always relaxing, yet invigorating.  I’ve reflected over the last 40 years and come up with no enduring complaints.  We are very happy together and grateful for each other.

That may have been our last trip in the travel trailer… I’m sad, but our original intent is quite different from the current reality.  We had planned to spend a couple of months each winter down in Melbourne, FL, near Aunt Shirley and my Cousin Kim.  Florida State Parks are so cheap and beautiful, but it was impossible for me to get reservations during the snow-bird months.  There are plenty of other nice campgrounds, if you can get in, but they cost much much mucho more $.  We’ve gone down there for the last three winters trying places out, but nothing pleased us…that we could afford.

Of course, we’d also planned to do the out-West stuff, like the NM trips, but decided last year that we didn’t want to haul the trailer up into the Rockies.  Making it all the way to California would take days and mega gallons of gas (the gas consumption is much higher than we thought).  There, too, it’s not easy to find affordable campgrounds.

So we’re putting everything back into the trailer just the way it was when we bought it,  ugly upholstery and all.  When Casey’s got it shining, we’ll put a for sale sign in the yard and see what happens.  If it doesn’t sell this fall, we’ll cover it up and put it away until next year.   If you know anyone who might be interested in buying a well-kept 2017 Coachmen Catalina Legacy, send me a message.

The Anniversary trip was supposed to be to Disney World, but we opted against masks all day in 100degree, muggy weather.  We did renew our Annual Passes, though, and feel that it’s safe enough to go sometime this fall.  We’ve booked our rooms for 2021 Spring Break with the Jrs., showing our hope for the future.  It’s hard to make plans right now; everything seems uncertain, like standing on shaking ground.

The Bright Spot in my Days lately has been researching and writing The Sonnystone Saga.  I could go on and on, so I have decided I will.  I have another blog, All My Ancestors, where I have written about my greats and Casey’s illustrious kin. There are still several branches of the families to pursue, so after I finish up the Saga, I’ll dig in to those roots. I’m going to post those on Mondays, here on Sonnystone.  I’ll return to sharing the Weekly Report on Sundays and not get so far behind!

Did you know I have a gardening blog, too?  I post a photo/journal entry there every week on Thursdays.  I’m going to “move” those posts over to this blog starting this week.  For now, that will be posts on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays.  I’m excited..!

The Twelfth installment of The Sonnystone Saga will be published tomorrow.  Thanks for Reading!

Peace