Monday, May 27, 2013

Remembering

I did a fast pass through my Ahnentafel chart and got info on four ancestors who served in the military. Here they are:

Ebenezer Harris of Galien, Michigan
--US Civil War 1862-65, 5th Sergeant, Co. E, 12th Regiment, Michigan Infantry. Fought at Shiloh. Great-grandfather, d.1908.

James Henry Orrell of Middlesex, Virginia
--US Civil War, 1863-64, Private, Co. A, 109th Militia & Co. I, 55th Virginia Infantry. GG-grandfather, d.1900.

Evelyn Orrell MacDonald of Wilmington, North Carolina
--WW II, 1944-45, Corporal, WAC. Grandmother, d.1967.

Harland J Harris of Galien, Michigan and Madison, Wisconsin
--WW II, 1940-45, Master Sergeant, 82nd Airborne. D-day glider pilot. Purple Heart, Bronze Star. Father, d.1946.

My grandmother's second husband, William Anson MacDonald, had served in the Army in WW I but never talked about it. He was the man I called "grandaddy."

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Small emergency

Well, not really. My computer had been acting funny for a couple of weeks so I took it in. It was diagnosed with "swollen battery." Seems the chemicals in it had begun to ferment, it swelled up and was pressing on the underside of the keyboard/trackpad. Quickly fixed -- for a princely sum (sigh).

The plumbers are still working on Amy's new sewer line. It's nearly done but they've been coming about 4-5pm after handling emergencies from all the rain we had last week. They're here right now and should be getting the monster machine out of the front yard and get the fence put back together. Then they have to remove a couple of bushes, including the amazingly thorny hawthorne.

The dog we're keeping (Freya) had a visit from her human, which she loved. However, then he left, and Amy had to go to work, so I got the deal with the forlorn canine. Much whimpering, moaning, barking -- for about six hours. Eventually she settled back down. I told Amy to tell him not to come visit again; the aftermath is too much trouble.

Then we're planning a yard sale.

The fun never stops.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Weather

We're getting copious amounts of rain and the high today should be in the low to mid-50s. Spring, right? At least we're not getting snow, like they did in Branson MO yesterday. How can people still deny climate change (a more accurate term than "warming" as it isn't just warming up, it's change from historical patterns).

Anyhow, Freya (aka Houdini) has been tamed by a stout cable that snaps on her harness. Out back, there's a tree we pass the cable around and she can snuff around about 12 feet but can't quite reach the road. We haven't been able to put her out front in the fenced yard because of sewer line replacement so the yard's churned up. Even in front, we have to cable her to the porch so she can't climb the fence. She's a great dog, though. I like her a lot. It's going to be sad when her owner finally takes her away. He hasn't even been to see her, the rat. Said he was going to come by yesterday but didn't. Humph.

Am going to the Living Treasures induction ceremony in a couple of hours. This is an organization that honors Asheville folk who've had an impact on the community, and my surrogate parents, Hazel and John Robinson, are being feted today. They founded Montford Park Players about 30 years ago to perform Shakespeare in the Park and it's now the longest-running such troupe in the country.

Uh oh, the wind's picking up. Lovely weather to have to go out in.