ROAD TRIP WITH A WONDERFUL DESTINATION

I'm a lousy traveler.  Always have been --- I remember my
Dad always telling me in the car to put down my book/puzzle/crayons/doll/etc. and look outside at the scenery.  I couldn't have cared less --- still don't!  I'm certainly not a road trip warrior, but we just returned from an almost 3000 mile car trip to California and back again (I read three books along the way).

Sometimes, the destination is worth the journey.  This time it was!  

The view outside the living room of our personal log cabin!

We went for a cousin reunion of the paternal side of my family.  I don't understand all of that first cousin, second cousin, once-removed stuff.  In our case our grandmothers were sisters and they married brothers, so we are double cousins, etc.  At any rate, there are only seven of my generation left; and four of us got together for four days at the youngest of the bunch's lake-house compound in northern California.  The three of us older ones were born within four months of each other, and we all grew up on adjoining farms.  We were close, but the years have scattered us; and I hadn't seen them for many years.

Here we are now in our 70s -- look at all of that white unruly hair with cow-licks galore just like our ancestors!

We spent the four days talking, reminiscing, remembering our grade school days, and trying to figure out and identify our ancestors from photos.  Our spouses must have been bored to death.  And, of course we talked about our kids, grandkids, and we ate great food, then we ate again and again!

Below is one of the pictures taken in the summer of 1940 that was unearthed in our discussions.  I love this picture as it tells so many stories.  It must have been Sunday as the men are all in their white shirts, ties, but most noticeably they are not wearing hats.  These were all hard working farmers/ranchers descending from pioneers who homesteaded in Colorado in 1876.  Without their hats they had tanned faces and white foreheads.  I see a story in each and every smile, frown, or side-way glance.

All are deceased now except the older boy in the middle and the three of us babies on the left side.  It was wonderful for the three of us along with our hostess, a younger sibling (not born at the time of the picture), to reunite.

The scenery at the lake house, even though beautiful, was not the most wonderful thing of the destination.  It was the coming together of the family that was the most joyous.

If the possibility exists, don't hesitate to reunite with family. 

IT'S WORTH THE JOURNEY!

I'm joining the following:

A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday

Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday

The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday

Backyard Neighbor for Blue Monday

TIE THAT BINDS

My husband, Bob, has a large extended family on his mother's side that enjoys getting together for a cousin's reunion. A week ago, nine cousins came together along with Bob's 95-year old mother, her 80-year old brother, and an assortment of inlaws, outlaws, kids and grandkids. Good food and lots of reminiscing and laughs completed the get-together.

The day spent with his family reminded me of this quilt that I made several years ago and had forgotten about. It has six generations of genealogical information hand-inked on the blocks. I remember that it took me much longer to research the information than it did to make the quilt.

I admire anyone that has the patience and enjoys working on genealogy. I'm afraid this quilt will have to be my contribution to our family's recorded history.

Do you enjoy studying your family history?