May 7, 2011

Last week, and this one have not been an easy time for many folks in southern states.

Killer tornadoes/storms stomped locations in central, and north east Alabama, and areas in Georgia.

Dave and I were in our ‘safe place’ (the Q-Hut at the farm)…we lost power overnight, but have not seen any real damage at the farm. We were extremely lucky!

Mom and Byron lost water; Mom was terrified during the event; but it passed them by without any damage at Calcis.

Probably thousands of people are still without power; and many are without employment, homes, and may have lost loved-ones to the storm/tornadoes.

The day after the disaster — Dave, Brent, and I were in Piedmont at the usual store opening time (Mark showed up later) — the whole downtown area was without power.

As they (Dave, Brent and Mark) moved the meats from the freezers to one a trailer; a couple stopped by asking, “are ya’ll open for business?” Dave and Brent hesitated a moment, then said “cash or check only”…so started a day of running th store with the use of paper, pencil, and a calculator on Dave’s cell phone.

Most folks who came in (shopping by flashlight) were buying food items that did not need to be heated; they had heard the power might be off for 10 days up to two weeks — seems that a major transmission line was hit, and rebuilding it was going to take quite some time.

It’s been just over a week.

I like many people — have caught myself thinking it was Thursday, when it was actually Friday; and then realizing that I had known what day it was, when I started out from the house that morning.

Stress can do strange things…I still hope that everyone who needs help will get it.

– Cathy

Snow Days and Family Trees?

It has been a snow/ice day in Alabama today.
How does that related to family trees?
Well, since I am indoors from the weather, and have the flu-bug to boot, it means when I have had the brief burst(s) of energy — I have added a bit more to several ancestral branches.
No huge breakthroughs, but have made several connection I did not expect.
Last couple I stopped at was William N. Collins and Permelia Mary “Melia” Smith — don’t ask how I ended up with this couple.
They were somehow connect to the various families that I was tracing, from the Yancey County (Bald Mountain region) of North Carolina.
No family tree is SIMPLE…anyone who tells you that, has not done much research.
Somehow, the folks I have added to my main family tree file most likely are related to my Aunt Betty Jean Davis (Abernathy).
Her ancestral line is where I began today’s research project…
Okay, I am not getting much more done on this blog or the research…guess I need to get something to drink and get back to doing ‘something’ while the dryer is get the clothes done.
Another update will be in the works as soon as I find something news-worthy.
- CATHY

Hot Day

7 July 2010
One very hot day.
Dave and I delivered groceries to Mom; then headed back home.
Stopped at a few thrift/antique stores along the way.
Since getting in the AC, and starting to cool off, have been reading messages, and adding/correcting more items on my websites (someone set in havoc by my previous computer dying); as well as blogs, and misc. stuff.
Need to get things sorted out with this new laptop, get it behaving the way I want it; so I will be able to create a backup set of RECOVERY disks — then get Dave to set it for dual-boot (Windows 7 and Linux).
My head is pounding, so I won’t do much more for now.
How has your week been?
Would love to hear from my readers.
– Cathy

Death of a computer…

(Take two…)
Attempted this post just but a few minutes ago — stepped away from the keyboard — came back the automatic Windows 7 update had re-started my computer. [growl!]
I lost all the text I had written (now have settings a bit different, to prevent this problem from occurring again) — I hate having to re-write things when software/OS updates cause me to lose them.
——————–­——
Now, where was I?
Ahhh, heck — I think I’ll do something else and come back to this post. There are things needing to be added, set-up; and yet to be test-driven on this computer.
I promise to return – soon.
“And to continue…”
– Cathy

Alabama Governor – Joseph Forney Johnston

National Governors Association

Alabama Governor Joseph Forney Johnston
Born: March 23, 1843
Died: August 8, 1913
Birth State: North Carolina
Party: Democrat
Family: Married Theresa Virginia Hooper; three children

Periods in Office: From: December 1, 1896
To: December 1, 1900

State Web Site

Higher Office(s) Served: Senator

War(s) Served: Civil War

JOSEPH FORNEY JOHNSTON, Alabama’s 30th governor, was born in Lincoln County, North Carolina, on March 23, 1843, to Dr. William and Nancy Johnston. He was educated in public schools, and moved in 1860 to Talladega, Alabama, where he attended high school. In 1861, Johnston enlisted in the Confederate Army as a private, served as captain of the 12th North Carolina Infantry, and was wounded in four battles.

J & P Coats Six-Strand Embroidery Floss – How Many Different Colors?

J & P Coats Six-Strand Embroidery Floss

Name:
J & P Coats six-strand embroidery floss, a product of Coats & Clark, is also known as Article C 11. The product is sold in nine yard skeins.
Composition:
Six-strand J & P Coats embroidery floss is made up of 100% Mercerized Cotton.
Colors:
There are 131 solid and 11 variegated colors of J & P Coats six-strand embroidery floss.
Characteristics :
J & P Coats Floss is washable, dry-cleanable, and colorfast.
Tips for Working with J & P Coats Six-Strand Embroid

DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss – Number of different colors?

DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss

“Cross Stitch Design Stitched With DMC Floss”

Cross Stitch Design Stitched with DMC Floss
Photo and Design © Connie G. Barwick, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Type of Floss:
DMC six-strand embroidery floss, also known as Article 117, is available for purchase as individual skeins or in multicolor floss packs.

DMC is the abbreviation of Dollfus-Mieg & Compagnie, an early name for the company.
Composition of DMC Embroidery Floss:
DMC six-strand embroidery floss is 100% long-staple cotton.
Wide Range of Colors:
There are 454 solid colors and 18 variegated colors of DMC six-strand embroidery floss.

Floss Conversion Charts – Alternatives for J&P Coats Floss

Golden Threads Imports Inc. :: Floss Conversion Charts :: From J&P Coats

Floss Conversion Charts
Alternatives for DMC | Alternatives for Anchor | Alternatives for J&P Coats

Alternatives for J&P Coats Floss

Pell City Chamber gearing up for Block Party, other festivities

stclairtimes – Pell City Chamber gearing up for Block Party other festivities

PELL CITY — A weekend of fun free family events with one goal in mind: bringing local folks back to their hometown.

“Last year, notice went out all over the state for towns to join the Year of Alabama Small Towns & Downtowns,” Mayor Bill Hereford said. “We already had the key ingredient in place, the annual Block Party, and that weekend was perfect.”

Hereford said Pell City is one of 215 towns participating in the Great Alabama Homecoming, a part of the Year of Alabama Small Towns & Downtowns. Pell City’s Great Alabama Homecoming weekend is June 4-6.

“We want folks to come home for the weekend, and spend time with family attending many of our great free family events,” he said.

Martha S. Owens, Rainsville — Obituary

Shelby County Reporter | Obituary: Martha S. Owens, Rainsville

Martha S. Owens, Rainsville

Funeral service for Martha Owens, age 71, of Rainsville, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 6, 2010, at Broadway Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Kirk Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be from 12-2 p.m. Saturday, March 6, 2010, at Broadway Baptist Church. Mrs. Owens will also have a visitation from 6-7 p.m. Friday, March 5, 2010, at First Baptist Church of Columbiana with a service to follow at 7 p.m.
Mrs. Owens was a wonderful business teacher who taught for over 37 years. Nothing gave her greater joy than to see her students succeed. She is survived by one daughter, Angela Gilbreath Treadaway (DeWayne) of Columbiana and two step children, Carol Owens of Myrtle Beach N.C. and Brian Owens of Fyffe. She is also survived by a brother, Vercie Gravitt and sister-in-law, Irma Gravitt of Crossville and her father,William Gravitt who is 99 years of age in a Nursing Home in Crossville. She is also survived by one grandson, Zachary Treadaway.
She loved her church and being in the choir at Broadway Baptist Church in Rainsville. She also loved First Baptist Church Columbiana where she attended while visiting her daughter in Columbiana. She passed away after a year-long battle with cancer.
Please sign online condolences at www.boltonfuneralhome.com.