Tag: Weekly Wrap-Up

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Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

I don’t know what to say.

I’m working on writing some words about it over on my Rave on, MadWoman blog, but it’s turning into a therapy session. For now, I am hiding. Since 9:30pm Tuesday I’ve neither heard nor read any news, with the exception of a a tear-filled conversation with my daughter on Wednesday morning. I went through and cut off “friends” I had spent the last months “talking” with over on Threads and Youtube. I’m so mad at myself for getting so emotionally involved, for caring at all!, but all I can do is stop it. I still wake up every morning sick at my stomach, bewildered, grieving. I wish I had some sage advice or comfort, but you could try doing what I do in the face of fear: Hide. Yes, Avoidance R me…

Thanks to my mother’s extreme moods, and the constant loud fighting of both parents, I developed the skill of dissociation at an early age, retreating into my own mind and literally hiding from the Noise in my closet or even under my bed. I don’t have to physically hide anymore, but I “hide” from my thoughts — I have re-organized all of my kitchen drawers, as if it it matters. I’ve read two books and a couple of magazines, and that new Reba show, Happy’s Place, is pleasantly distracting. I’m learning Handel’s Water Music in its entirety. Did I tell you I pulled my old stereo down from the attic, dragged out my extensive CD collection, and started listening in alphabetical order? I’m to Queen now…

I wish there were something more I could do…

Samantha and I were out at the Mall on Friday evening and I discovered that Build-a-Bears can cost a lot less than some of the other crap she likes, and they’re more fun, too.

I was talking to Samantha about the days when our phone stayed home, and if someone called us while were out, we’d Never Know… She was appalled. I asked her if she’d ever heard of a busy signal. Noo… I explained that if someone called Me while my sister was on the phone, they would hear a busy signal and we had No Way of knowing that someone had even called!!! I took her through a timeline of voice mail machines and bulky car phones with giant magnetic antennas. That’s about as far as I got before we arrived at the Donut Bank, but it got me to thinking about how nice it was when you could walk away from your phone., when TV wasn’t 24/7, and there weren’t computers to overwhelm us with sketchy information. I want my Peace Back.

Casey will turn 70 on November 30 and we’ve planned to celebrate in Gatlinburg, TN. We’ve been there for several holidays, but it’s been awhile, so we are very excited to see an attraction that is new to us: Anakeesta, a theme park at the top of a mountain, with zip-lines, mountain coasters, treetop walks, and lots of bars, restaurants, and shopping.

We planned to be there on his birthday-day, but since that would really make for a hectic thanksgiving holiday, we’re grabbing some clear weather and driving tomorrow. It’s about an 8-hour drive, and the weather forecast is sunny, highs in the 60s. Casey is as bummed as I am, so we’re pumped for a road trip.

Stay strong.

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report

Ghost Fest

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

You may call it Halloween, and most of us know that it’s based on the old pagan celebration of Samhain, but did you know ancient Celts celebrated their New Year on November 1? Look no further for an excuse to party…

The Church appropriated celebration of this new year and called it All Saints and All Souls Days, but it’s an Ancient practice to celebrate our ancestors, to remember our departed family members on those days, November 1 and 2, when the veil between the OtherWorld and ours is thin and the spirits can come in and party with us.

So it was that I invited a bunch of ghosts for a soiree on Friday…

While the Ancestors hob-nobbed around the marigolds and fresh fruit, Samantha joined us down at the fire circle for some hot dogs.

I quite like the idea of starting the Wheel of the Year on these days. There is a certain slant of light that changes the very air to Gold if you can see it just so. The Colors of Autumn are my favorites, so there has to be some time spent walking through crunchy leaves each time this season rolls around. To that end, we visited a nearby park and crunched away…

We’ll be voting Tuesday. Walks in the woods are an essential part of my stay sane strategy for maneuvering through this election cycle. Hope you have a plan, too!

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report

Just a thought or two…

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

So last Sunday, I saw the University of Evansville Theatre production of “Into the Woods”.

This beautiful Stephen Sondheim musical was introduced to me by my daughter when she was in high school, around 1990 or so, and played a VHS tape of the original Broadway performance over and over…and over. More recently, 2022, she and I saw the revived Broadway production together. I really love this musical; it is so complex and the music is so good. The UE production was nothing like what I saw on the tape or the Broadway stage. This version took place in a library, where the librarian is actually reading the fairy tale to some children. The scenery remained the library, though the children moved off stage until the end. It was much lighter, with laughs and broad characterizations — like a fairy tale! — where you feel a lot of fears and tears in the Broadway version. But the Music, the wonderful writing of James Lapine and compositions by Stephen Sondheim, was the same and well-sung by the talented cast of Theatre majors. I really loved it!

I always feel guilty when I miss a week of blogging, like I’ve really let you down. I give myself frequent hell for the whole time, every day thinking I’m a such a heel for just abandoning you, my faithful readers.

Your numbers have dwindled from my heyday of blogging, when I often blogged daily, taking on such taxing tasks like watching/reviewing every “Best Movie” Oscar winner, or taking you on a tour of my cd collection. You remember many incarnations of my gardens and home and were present when I got my baby grand piano.

Back then, I was working as a school nurse and a church organist, and track nurse during the horse racing season, There were grandchildren arriving every couple of years, so there was plenty of material for interesting blogs, with pictures of babies to attract the attention of the masses.

You were there when I retired, rather bitterly, and left a nice efu to my bosses at the school corporation right here on this blog. When Casey retired and we bought the travel trailer and started our travels, I blogged every trip and you rode along. Dear readers, you have taken 12 Disney trips with me and none of you complained!

The problem became for me that I was living my life like a commentary, seeing everything through its description or its photograph and I was feeling very detached, even dissociated from the Present Moment, aka Now. So I quit blogging, said my good-byes, and effectively moved back toward mindfulness.

But I missed you and I think y’all missed me, as well. We’ve got a thing going here, let’s face it. So I’ve attempted to post weekly, but once I took my mind off acquiring content, I’ve found it difficult to get back into the habit, especially during the slow times when not much is happening.

I also have a blog named All My Ancestors that tells the stories of many of my forebears (who are not, actually, bears). It is a work of love, as is my garden blog, Growing Every Season, but it’s nothing like this comfortable OG blog, Sonnystone Acres, where the News is just blather and balderdash. I really enjoy sitting down and talking with you every Sunday and appreciate your loyalty.

We’re going to go for a Fall Foliage ride this week, destination to be decided later, but I Will remember to take some pictures. Have a happy Halloween, if that’s your jam.

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report

Evening Edition

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

We had a beautifully sunny week here at Sonnystone Acres. I have trimmed, pruned, and potted the tender perennials to bring in for the winter. They’re still enjoying the fresh air outdoors, but soon enough we’ll be bringing them into the shed, where a sunny area is arranged for them. I harvested about 3/4 of the green beans, but the peas and zucchini are a bust. I started out with four coleus and have added four more plants and four more in water, waiting to root. I’m thinking they’ll make nice Christmas gifts…

We never did make it down to the Fall Festival, but the Jr. Girls both marched in the parade Saturday. Look at my little cowgirls…

We were in New Harmony on Saturday for the Wilson monthly auction. We’re just getting our feet wet, learning how to bid at these things, and enjoying the heck out of it. As previously mentioned, I don’t need More Junk, but… A Bargain is a bargain – how can you pass it up? Casey is just as much a junker as I am with the tools and lawn equipment, so this could make for some expensive diversion.

We’re supposed to have our first frost this week and temps are plunging. I’m happy to say good-bye to the 80s, and ready for sweater weather, but some rain would be nice.

Hope you’re enjoying Life in your neck of the woods.

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report

A bit of babbling…

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Just as I was beginning to get my energy back, Casey decided to start feeling not-so-great. A lot of his discomfort is caused by over-working shoulders and back, quite the opposite of my sleep-injuries. It does make me wonder how long we’ll be able to stay here on the Acres and keep it maintained properly. I hope it’s just a matter of him beginning to set a new pace for himself, as I’d like to stick around another five or so years.

The toy/play area in our family room has been dismantled and stored away, a sad task for me. I still have a lot of my own dolls and stuffed animals, and now it’s three generations that have played with the Barbie clothes that my grandmother made me. The task had a domino effect of cleaning and curating upstairs and I think I’m what we’ll call a sentimental hoarder. With all of my grandmothers’ and grandaunts’ and Mom’s heirlooms and tchotchkes, my house is full enough, but add in my own “collections” and souvenirs and it’s overflowing. I do love looking through it all every so once in a while and I often say I’m going to clear more of it out, but I doubt I will make much of a dent in it.

The Evansville West Side Nut Club Fall Festival starts today and the whole town is excited for the event, one of the largest and most popular Fall Festivals in the whole USA. We’ll probably pop over to ingest some grease for lunch one day this week and Samantha will be marching in Saturday’s parade with her Dance School, so we’ll see if we can find a seat for that. It’s been decades since I have been to the Fest at night, but it’s something to behold.

Temps are up to 90 today and I’m back in my shorts, but I’m ready for some cooler weather, dang it. Usually there’s a weather change during the week of the Fall Festival, so my fingers are crossed that we’ll start to see some Fall foliage displays.

Hope you’re enjoying Life in your neck of the woods!

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report

Diggin’ around Yellow Springs

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

We were late starting our drive to Yellow Springs, Ohio on Monday, but the drive was smooth and we were there in plenty of time. It was great weather for camping at John Bryan State Park, and wasn’t that SuperMoon Super?!

The next day we were up and at ’em, arriving at Emery Chapel cemetery early before the humidity and heat set in. We took a probe to check for buried stones and were met with immediate success!

Adam Found!
This is all we could find of Adam’s grave…

I believe we could probe and find several more, but I’m not missing anybody on my family tree, so I think we’re kind of done there. We sprayed some cleaner over all of the stones and said our good-byes. I feel great joy at being able to do this for my greats.

I was wrong in my assessment last week — Despite Springfield’s current problems, the population remains steadfastly defensive of their bigotry… I spoke with the Pastor of the Chapel, who insisted that this is “not political”…that’s another story… but it still makes me very sad (and a little scared since they all seem to have guns) to see such visible hate, so I’m in no hurry to return there.

We don’t really have to go into Springfield proper, though, as the church is 4-5 miles outside of town, so we may visit the chapel again someday because we Love Yellow Springs. Adjacent to the JB State Park, just 5 miles west of the chapel, it is the sweetest small town, surrounded by beauty and history, including this lovely covered bridge.

We’ve not been able to take any significant hikes, but there are plenty there, as well as mountain bike trails that are immensely popular. It is an island of Harris/Walz signs, exuding inclusion and peace, with the faint aroma of cannabis wafting through the air.

The weather was perfect for sitting outside at one of many restaurants enjoying a nice meal, or strolling through the downtown shops. Yes, we might have to visit again!

We finally got some rain this morning! I’m ready for Fall, y’all!

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report

genealogy, a cemetery, and a roadtrip…

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

I enjoyed the Genealogy Quest at Willard Library this week. The librarians always do such a great job of making us comfortable, and the speakers are inspiring. Thanks to a day of learning about FamilySearch, I’m going to start all over again with my Mom’s family using their website. FamilySearch is operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and is closely linked to the church’s Family History Department. Many of their members work at the FamilySearch library and Family History Centers as missionaries when they’re young, or just volunteers later. They have been doing this- and doing it well – for decades, so the whole website is exponentially better than the last time I took a look and I’m excited to re-boot my genealogy experience.

I won’t be starting that this week, although I’m sticking with the Ancestors theme: we are leaving tomorrow to finish up the cemetery at Emery Chapel. My 4x greats and more are buried there and the church had let the gravesites get covered over with brush and dirt. Here’s what we’ve done so far…

Diggin’ up ‘stones…

We camped at a nearby State Park, and the morning we left we cruised by for one last look and some pictures. Casey nearly stumbled on a protruding rock and when he looked closer, he was able to pull out a piece of a stone with a clear A… Eureka! We marked the spot best we could, and now we’ll take a probe and our tools and pull his marker up! This is so exciting for me! I know, crazy, huh?

The picture on the left is my 3x great-grandmother’s grave before. As we dug, we also found the marker of the babies she lost before her death, just one marker, with three precious names on three sides.. On the right you can see after we set them up on level ground and reunited their stones…

Honestly, I feel their spirits when I remember them, and the veil thins when I touch their gravestones…

My 4x great-grandfather, Adam Mayne, founded the church and cemetery where he is buried. He settled in the area in 1820 and established a stagecoach stop, and owned many acres to farm. From the minute I arrived in the area, I felt like I had come home. That’s why I’ve taken it kind of hard this week to see the town of Springfield, Ohio, so maligned. This town of 60,000 is not dangerous (though it does harbor a lot of trumpers) and was peaceful enough until all these terrible lies were spread. These Haitian people are here LEGALLY, just like my Vietnamese nail girls, and my Ukrainian banker, and my my son-in-law’s Filipino parents. They were invited and welcomed by local churches and social organizations. They weren’t tricked into coming there, and they work for a living. And now they’re being threatened with deportation? Remember “Bring me your tired, your poor?” It’s an American Thing to help people who are “yearning to breathe free”, or it used to be. And if you really want to do something about the Southern Borders, pass that bill that’s sitting on the Speaker’s desk, or vote for someone who will…

Goldie is ready for a road trip and so am I. It’s about 4.5 hours, so our plan is to first shop at Heart of Antiques in Springfield, then head down Xenia Road to John Bryan State Park. The campground there is adjacent to Yellow Springs, a village we adore, and about 5 miles from the cemetery.

Hope you’ll be enjoying this last week of summer in your neck of the woods…

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report

Including a tribute to my son, sort of…

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

It’s been an interesting couple of weeks here at the Acres. I’ve been see-sawing between feeling not-so-great and not-so-bad; nothing serious, just low energy. I’ve gotten behind on housework, yardwork, writing, while spending a lot of time laying around with a book. I’m still slow.

Last Sunday we met up with my son and his family for little something to celebrate his 43rd trip around the sun. His wife, however, could not attend because she was feeling bad from Covid. Her symptoms sounded vaguely like mine, but I haven’t been around her and I don’t test for those things.

I was tired and my food was horrible and the very-bad server didn’t even bring him a brownie bite, so it wasn’t much of a celebration, though it was nice to be together. But it’s not her fault that I forgot to take any pictures!!!

I did not get a picture! Not one! No selfie for his birthday! No blow-the-candle-out photo! I was very disappointed, naturally, and too tired (and sick-looking) to run over to his house and stage one. I assure you, he did not care… However, this failure on my part led me on a search through old pictures, and I remembered that I cry easily…

My Boy-Child…

I think he’ll like these better than a selfie anyway. My son is such a mensch and I love him like a rock.

While I’m not quite back to my normal bounce, I’m currently feeling Fine. Samantha and I started back to Jojo’s Academy of Music yesterday – this is her third year and she’s very good. We’re scheduled for every Saturday, but the good thing about having your Grandma teach you piano is that she can be very flexible. Well, not literally, but you know what I mean.

Willard Library and the Genealogy Society are having a seminar this week and I’ve signed up for 2-3 of the speakers. I have been attending this gathering for years and recently they’ve added Food Trucks which I appreciate!

It’s cool today and I’m going to get some mums planted…slowly… Hope you’re feeling perky in your neck of the woods.

Peace

Posted in All My Ancestors, Sunday Report

Aunties and Ancestors

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Pictured above are my Great-Aunts Bernie and Ruth…

My brother, who is downsizing, has been steadily bringing me medium-size boxes of family photos and other ephemera that he’s unearthed. Because we’ve been so busy with garden, family, and travel I am just now getting around to pilfering through the photo albums.

If you know me well at all, you have heard many “Aunt Bernie” stories, starring my grand-aunt Bernadine Mayne Harrison, who lived to be 100 years old. Born in 1903, she was 19 when she married Uncle Harry, and they were married for 50 years before he died in 1972. Bernie and Harry traveled a lot and in 1950 they loaded up their car on a ship and sailed to Italy, where they disembarked and proceeded to tour. In one of the boxes Brother brought me is a full album of that trip. I am fascinated and have fallen in love with my Auntie all over again.

She was the Best Dresser! Check this out. Her purse has a hook for her gloves…

Aunt Bernie and Uncle Harry in Italy. 1950

There’s more of that sort, as well as pictures of Bernie’s sister, my beloved Aunt Ruth (who first took me to the cemeteries). Here’s the sisters – not Italy, most likely the Gulf of Mexico.

GrandAunts Bernie and Ruth

There are other old albums with pictures of Grandmother and Grandad (Bernie and Ruth’s parents, my great-grands) that I’ve never seen before, and a daguerreotype, marked! as my great-great-great grandparents, Eliza and Orlando Harris (Grandad’s grandparents).

Eliza Jane and Orland Harris, 1850s

Call me crazy, but I believe these folks are here with me. Of course, I actually knew and had a relationship with my aunties and grandparents, but all of the greats have become so familiar to me as I researched and wrote about their lives and times. I love telling the tales of my tribe and I draw them down to help me sort through the photographs of their happy times.

The oppressive heat is back and the garden is wrapping up, so it’s a good time to stay in the a/c and do some writing over on the Ancestry blog. I’ve got some stories to share…

Stay cool!

Peace