Self Destructive Sunshine

Seattleites have an interesting relationship with sunshine. They even have special phrases that I didn't hear back in Ohio. 

Like - sun break 

Recently I heard a new one - self destructive sunshine. The weather person said we were going to have self destructive sunshine that would bring rain later in the day.

She was right. We had sunshine in the morning and rain in the afternoon. Here's the only reference I could find about self desctuctive sunshine

Morning "self-destructive" sunshine will boost temperatures in the lower part of the atmosphere and that combined with quite cold temperatures aloft will cause some destabilization. As a result, the morning sunshine will give way to afternoon clouds and a few scattered showers will likely pop up around the area. perspecta weather

pixabay 

Riding the Waves

Most of the ducks were out of the water. 

But some seemed to enjoy riding the rough waves. 

Utah - RootsTech - Exhibition Hall

The Exhibition Hall is one of my favorite parts of RootsTech

150 companies 

It's fascinating to talk with people about their products

The New England Historic Genealogical Society was celebrating the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Mayflower. Through the Relatives at RootsTech phone app, I met a woman who's my 9th cousin once removed. She pointed out that we are related to Constance Hopkins who came to this country on the Mayflower. 

virtual reality applications for genealogy

Vendors gave short demonstrations of their products

The theater area featured soft couches and chairs, candy, and prizes

special activities for children 

early morning - once the exhibit hall opened these tables were filled 

with people meeting, eating, resting

Kirkland Strong

Kirkland Strong - Supporting Our Nursing Homes and Each Other

Tricia LaVoice decided to put these "ribbons of hope" around the trees of each of the 11 nursing homes in Kirkland. Then she did the same for trees in downtown Kirkland. LaVoice told a reporter, "I wanted to share love, not fear, and this community has always been so nice and has really stepped up their game to be friendly, sweet, and supportive while still respecting the boundaries that we need to have with now." Kirkland Weblog

Memories & Pearls

"For memory, we use our imagination. We take a few strands of real time and carry them with us, then like an oyster we create a pearl around them.” John Banville

image pixabay

Saint Patrick's Day

 Dressed for Saint Patrick's Day 

Masks for the coronavirus

Labor of Love

When I recently read this scripture, I thought of our family's records and all that's being done to preserve them and make them accessible. 

Now behold, it came to pass that I, Jacob, having ministered much unto my people in word, (and I cannot write but a little of my words, because of the difficulty of engraving our words upon plates) and we know that the things which we write upon plates must remain;

But whatsoever things we write upon anything save it be upon plates must perish and vanish away; but we can write a few words upon plates, which will give our children, and also our beloved brethren, a small degree of knowledge concerning us, or concerning their fathers—

Now in this thing we do rejoice; and we labor diligently to engraven these words upon plates, hoping that our beloved brethren and our children will receive them with thankful hearts, and look upon them that they may learn with joy and not with sorrow, neither with contempt, concerning their first parents.  (Jacob 4: 1-3)

***************

Jacob speaks the truth about making records. Jacob is making records on metal plates. The challenges are much the same today with paper and electronic versions. Difficulty. Write on material that will remain. Why do we do this? So our children and friends have a "small degree of knowledge" about their ancestors. We rejoice as we do this work. We labor diligently. We live in hope that our children will receive them with thankful hearts - and learn with joy about their ancestors. 

This is truly a labor of love. A gift to our posterity. 

Stories

“Our stories are powerful. They teach, they speak, they inspire. They bring about change. But they are also fragile. Their threads are so easily broken by time, by lack of interest, by failure to understand the value that comes of knowing where we have been and who we have been. In this speed-of-light culture, our histories are fading more quickly than ever. Yet when we lose our stories, we lose ourselves. … “ Lisa Wingate, The Story Keeper

Beauty of Friends and Flowers

A friend gave me a hyacinth bulb as a thank you. 

It's blooming, looking beautiful, and filling the room with wonderful aroma. 

I treasure the beauty of friendships and flowers. 

Book - Meet the Author

Nathan Dylan Goodwin writes genealogical crime mysteries. He usually publishes a new book just before RootsTech, a genealogy and technology conference. The Sterling Affair, pictured below, is his latest. Note the scarlet and gray RootsTech bags. Wonder if there was an OSU person on the selection committee? 

When an unannounced stranger comes calling at Morton Farrier's front door, he finds himself faced with the most intriguing and confounding case of his career to-date as a forensic genealogist. He agrees to accept the contract to identify a man who had been secretly living under the name of his new client's long-deceased brother. Morton must use his range of resources and research skills to help him deconstruct this mysterious man's life, ultimately leading him back into the murky world of 1950s international affairs of state. Meanwhile, Morton is faced with his own alarmingly close DNA match which itself comes with far-reaching implications for the Farriers. (source)

Goodwin's books are page turners for me. I enjoy the plots as well as reading about  the genealogical methods he uses. Joe would have liked this one. It was all about spies. 

Beautiful Days in the Neighborhood

We've had some beautiful, sunny days that brought many people outside

reading in the park

eating outside

 February blossoms

swimming in the pool