Tuesday, October 30, 2012

The Wooden Box

 
This little wooden box might not seem like anything special unless you know its history.  The box has beautiful wood inlay, painstakingly hand made of various woods; trimmed, inlaid and varnished with care.  This box was made by someone who was a carpenter by trade, but cabinetry was his forte. 
 
Kim's great-great grandfather, Alexander Nephi Stephens, made this little box for his wife, Amina, while he was serving a sentence for polygamy in Boise.  A.N.  spent several days during the months of January and February 1888 making several boxes and picture frames in the woodshop of the prison.  Conditions there were pretty cruel.  Their cell had a window opening high in the cell that was open to the weather.  A.N.'s journal records temps as cold as -30 degrees below zero.  The "facilities" consisted of a bucket and the food wasn't exactly what we would consider to be gourmet. 
 
The boxes and frames were made as gifts but I'm sure that their construction helped pass the time and gave A.N. something to look forward to.

Grandma Mary and her sons

 
Standing: Homer, Wallace, Russell
Seated: Ross, George, Grandma Mary, Donald
 
I love this photo!  I believe that the picture has been taken inside Homer and Barbara's little white home (before the brick home).  The wallpaper, the cabinet TV and the crisp white curtains scream vintage 1950.  Everyone looks so young, healthy and happy (and skinny).  I wish I knew what the event was, maybe a birthday party for grandma?  The color is wonderful, but the smiles are the best part.  

Monday, October 29, 2012

A debt owed...

This image is a copy of a note for a loan that was taken out in Cherokee, Iowa, by Thomas Hoskins.  He promised to pay back $45 - plus 10% interest -  to the financial institution by the first day of January 1873.  It appears to me that this note was unsecured, no collateral is listed on the face of the note.  This image came to me from another Hoskins cousin and I'm not sure where she got it.  I hope that the note came from family sources and not from the bank itself.  I've worked at financial institutions all of my married life and I know that the only reason that a note would be retained is if it was not repaid.   Since the note is not stamped "paid" - I suspect the worst.  I would be glad to repay the original $45 out of my pocket to clear my family's debt, but the accrued interest would have overtaken that principal amount by about 13 times - not to mention the collection fees.......

It's really fun to see my great-great grandfather's signature - much better penmanship than you would expect to see in this day and age!

David Hilton

David Hilton
 
I'm attaching below the obituary of David Hilton (grandfather of Mary Ann Hilton Speirs).  I recently came across it  - and it had some information that I had never heard before. I did not know that he was a stone mason by trade.
 


Sunday, October 28, 2012

1895 marriage license


This is the 1895 marriage license of my great-grandparents, William Hoskins and Catherine Anna Martin Campbell Hoskins.  They were married March 26, 1895, in Blackfoot, Idaho, by Fred S Stevens, the probate judge of Bingham county.  According to the license, William was living in Pocatello and Katie was living at Ross Fork (on the Sho-Ban reservation).  Katie had been widowed 5 years earlier and had lost her only child, a daughter, at 8 months of age.  The family legend says that Katie was working at a store on the reservation to support herself and met William, who was a cowboy by trade.  He worked breaking horses and eventually lost his health because of the many rough spills he had taken during his life.  The fee for the license was $1 - most likely the whole day's wage for a working man in that era.  The license is fragile and yellowed, but a precious piece of the past.

Mary Wilson Anderson as a child


This photo is in pretty poor shape, but must have been much loved.  I like it a lot because the little girl at the far left is smiling - something that you just don't see in old photos. I was told when I received the photo - and I don't even remember now how it came to me - that it was a photo of Mary Wilson Anderson when she was a small child.  Someone has taken the time to painstakingly hand color the dresses of the two girls in front.  They have also put a bit of color into the children's cheeks and lips - which says to me that this photo was important to  someone.  My guess is that the woman pictured at the back is a great-grandmother with her great-grandchildren. 
 
These women are the two great grandmothers of Mary Wilson Anderson who would have been living at the time she was a small child.  The one on the left is Sarah Thornton Coleman, the one on the right is May McEwan Bain Smith.  I can't tell which woman is pictured as the great-grandmother, so I'm finding it difficult to figure out the possibilities of which family the great-grandchildren belong to. 
 
Mary Wilson Anderson was born in January of 1888 and her older sister Jane was born in August of 1886 so the two girls are only separated in age by a year and 5 months.  Many people have mentioned to me that Mary and Jane had a strong resemblance to each other.  If I had to guess, I would suppose that the smiling little girl on the left is Mary and her sister Jane is the third child from the left in the front row.  Please give me some feedback if you have any thoughts - I would love to hear what anyone else would guess.
 
 


Family home of Ingrid and Anders Anderson

The family home of Ingrid and Anders Anderson
 
This photo, taken most likely between 1910 and 1920 shows Ingrid and Anders Anderson, seated second and third from left.  The others pictured are most likely Andrew Anderson and his family, since they shared the home.  I'm not having the best success trying to identify the individuals and would really appreciate any input from anyone who could help.
 
Both my father and his cousin, Bish, independently verified that they knew the home well.  They both mentioned that this negative has been flip-flopped when printed.  Both of them remembered the summer kitchen at the left of the photo (which is no longer standing.)


Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Bengta Anderson and her parents

I found a really cool history today that gives some information on Martin and Sine Anderson (parents of Anders Anderson).  The author of this history is Andrew Janus Hansen.  He married Bengta Anderson, Anders' sister.  See the original history in his own hand attached below.  I have typed a transription under the history.

Bengta Anderson Hansen
 
 
 
"Bengta Anderson, my first wife, was the youngest of four children raised to maturity by Martin Anderson and his wife Sine Phillips. Martin, her father, was a short, stalky, well built man of true Swedish stock and temperament, light complected, hair and beard blonde, eyes blue, weight about 155 lbs. Her mother was a large well proportioned woman, a giant in strength. She had the reputation in her girlhood days of being able to throw any man in a wrestling contest. She had a wealth of most beautiful raven black hair, slightly curly and had brown eyes. She believed herself to be of French blood, tho this is not fully certain, but certain it is that in her home locality there were a great many of her kindred who bore evidence of being of some foreign blood other than Swedish. Both parents came here from Sweden as LDS Emigrants, the father in the year 1869 in the same company in which I came, and the mother came the next year. They located at Holliday, Salt Lake County where they wrested from the sage and the oak brush a farm and comfortable home, and from here they sent back to Sweden for their “Baby Girl Bengta.”

Bengta had the complexion and to some extent the strength of her mother, tho not nearly so large, her weight 145-150lbs, her hair black, eyes brown. Like her parents, Bengta had received no school education. She could read with difficulty, but could not write, and had no knowledge of Arithmetic, and yet in her own way she could not be confused in computing dollars and cents. She was devoted and loyal to her religion as far as she understood it, and as such she most readily gave her consent and her sacred sanction to her husband to marrying three other wives in harmony with the teachings and practices in the church in those days. Surely no greater sacrifice could a woman have given, nor greater proof of her loyalty, wherefore also assuredly she shall wear the “victors crown”. Withstanding her natural strength, her health became impaired at an early age, super - ?, as I believe, at least in part thru our sorrows in losing our children, in our early family life as may be seen by referring to her family group in this Family Record. She died at Sugar City, Idaho, at the age of fifty-four, the immediate cause of her death being Asthma. She was the mother of nine children, four of which died in babyhood, four lovely, healthy, robust children till stricken by death. One other a daughter, a wife and a mother, has since died, leaving a husband and three children behind her. "

What a great bit of history!!!  I also came across this little bit of history on another web site:

"Andrew Janus Hansen became closely acquainted with Martin Anderson and his wife, a family of Swedish saints who lived in the neighborhood. This man had come from his native country on the same ship and in the same company in which he had come from Denmark. He later sent for his wife and now their daughter Bengta. Martin was an old man and therefore had not learned the language as fast as Andrew. Martin used Andrew as an interpreter for him with the people from whom he had hopes of borrowing the money for migrating his family. He succeeded in getting the money and in due time Bengta arrived. Andrew was introduced to Bengta as the young man who had helped to get the money for her immigration and that she should do something to show her appreciation, which she did by conceding to be his wife."

Carrie - Neil's oldest sister

William Avery Goodwin and Carrie Anderson
 
Carrie Anderson was the second child and oldest daughter of Ingrid and Anders Anderson.  She was born September 16, 1878 in Utah.  She met William Avery Goodwin in Holladay and they attended the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple together.  They were later married in the temple in 1897.  They had 5 children in Utah and then moved to Thomas, Idaho, in 1909.  They bought 20 acres of sagebrush land and built a two room home.  Three more sons were born in Idaho.  Both Avery and Carrie are buried in the Riverside-Thomas Cemetery.

Neils and Oscar

Neils Anderson and his brother Oscar
 
Oscar Anderson was the youngest of the 11 children born to Anders and Ingrid Anderson.  His birth was on May 24, 1895 in Utah.  Oscar played baseball and was good enough to play on some minor league teams.  He married Hazel Caldwell Lee and they were the parents of 3 daughters.  Oscar died suddenly at the age of 41 - cause of death reported to be diptheria and paralysis - in Sterling, Idaho.  He is buried in the Riverside-Thomas cemetery.

More Neils siblings

Mary Anderson Dance
 
Mary Anderson was the ninth child and youngest daughter of Anders and Ingrid Anderson.  She was born November 6, 1891 in Utah and came with the family to Idaho in 1906.  She married William Dance and remained in the Thomas area for the remainder of her life.  She and William became the parents of Ingrid, Gareth, Deone, Marna and Lowell.  She passed away in 1942 and is buried in the Riverside-Thomas cemetery.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Sibling of Neils Anderson

Reuben and Betsey Simper
 
Betsey Anderson was born August 30, 1880 in Cottonwood, Utah, as the third child and second daughter of Anders and Ingrid Anderson.  In 1903 she married Reuben Massey Simper.  It is unclear if the Simpers came to Idaho at the same time as the Anders and Ingrid Anderson family, but they did spend the majority of their married life on their farm in the Thomas area north of the Wilson school.    The Simpers were the parents of three children:  Mary, Ruby and John. 
 
Betsey passed away in 1943 and is buried in the Riverside-Thomas cemetery along with her husband Reuben.
 
 
 

Monday, October 15, 2012

Another sibling of Neils Anderson

William Warren Bowthorpe and Annie Anderson on their wedding day
 
Annie was the 6th child of Anders and Ingrid Anderson.  She was born March 3, 1886 in Holladay, Utah.  She married William Warren Bowthorpe in 1904 (before the majority of the family moved to the Thomas area).  The Bowthorpes always lived in Utah.  They became the parents of 5 children.  Their  oldest child, William A, died when 7 years old of pneumonia.  Their only daughter, Pynina Arvilla, died when she was less than a year old.  The remaining 3 sons, Herbert Lavelle, Anders Warren, and Nephi Ford lived to manhood.  Annie passed away when she was about 33 years old and is buried in the Holladay Memorial Park cemetery.   

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Siblings of Neils Anderson

Andrew and Emma Anderson
 
The oldest child of Anders and Ingrid Nilsson is Andrew Anderson.  (Andrew is the anglicized version of the name Anders.)  He was born May 13, 1876, in Holliday, Salt Lake, Utah.  When he was 21 he was called to fill a mission to the Northern States.  He traveled without purse or script.
 
On February 27, 1901, he married Emma Christina Okeson, who was also born in Holliday of Swedish immigrant parents.  Both Andrew and Emma's parents left Sweden and came to America as converts to the LDS church.
 
In 1906, Anders and Ingrid and the other children moved to Thomas, Idaho.  Soon afterward Andrew and Emma joined them and moved to Idaho.
 
Both Andrew and Emma were active in the church.  Andrew served as canal watermaster and cemetery sexton.   Andrew passed away suddenly in 1935.  Emma cared for her mother-in-law Ingrid until Ingrid passed away in 1944. 

Andrew and Emma's first child, Emma Ardella passed away when she was only a few months old.  The photo here shows Andrew and Emma with Ingrid Leone, Martin Lloyd, Andrew Willis and the baby is Orvilla Elaine.  Emma and Andrew later became parents of Hazel Delores, Sadie Camilla and Kermit Randall. 
 
Emma passed away in 1962.  Both Andrew and Emma are buried in the Riverside-Thomas Cemetery.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Todd soldiers in WWI

 
Today we have a wonderful e-mail from our Irish cousin, Sam, regarding Kim's great uncle Hugh Todd, his grandfather John Todd and another great uncle Joseph Todd:
 
Hugh Todd
 
Army records obtained from Comber Historical Society, with a lot of work by Lester Morrow.
18836 Rfn. Hugh Todd
“B” Coy 13th (S) Batt. Royal Irish Rifles
Enlisted 17th Sept. 1914 Comber Age 19y 3m
To France 5th Oct. 1915
Wounded Somme 1st July 1916 (Gun Shot Wound Right Shoulder)
Home 5th July to 13th Nov.1916
Returns to Batt. 14th Nov.1916
Promoted L/Cpl. 20th Sept. 1917
Taken Prisoner of War 16th April 1918
Returned home 30th November 1918
Discharged 7th March 1919 to Class Z Army Reserve.
Entitled to 3 War Medals

At sometime joined the Civil Service of N.Ireland as a messenger at Parliament Buildings Stormont
Awarded the British Empire Medal in 1957
Died 31st December 1974
 
 
John Todd
 
18837 Rfn. John Todd
“B” Coy 13th (S) Batt. Royal Irish Rifles
Enlisted 17th Sept. 1914 Comber Age 20y 8m
To France 5th Oct. 1915
Wounded Somme 1st July 1916 (Shell Shock)
Home 5th July to 3rd March 1917
Returns to Batt. 4th March 1917
Wounded Passchandaele 16th August 1917 (Gun Shot Wound Left Arm)
Home 20th Aug. 1917 to 28th March 1918
Returns to 12th Batt. (13th Batt. has now been disbanded) 29th March 1918
Wounded 15th April 1918 (Gun Shot Wound Right Foot [ankle joint])
Discharged 23rd Sept. 1918 due to wounds.
Entitled to Silver War Badge no. B14249 + 3 War Medals
18-488 Rfn. Joseph Todd
“D” Coy 11th (S) Batt. Royal Irish Rifles
Enlisted 2nd June 1915
To France 9th December 1915
Wounded Somme 1st July 1916
Batt. amalgamated with 13th batt. Nov. 1917
11/13 Batt. Disbanded Feb. 1918
To 12th Batt. on this date
Discharged 14th March 1919 to Class Z Army Reserve
Entitled to 3 War Medals.

Sorry don’t have any more info on Joseph than above.

Hope this is of use to you

Lester Morrow
Archivist 13th (S) Batt. Royal Irish Rifles
Some very good information


Sam

 
 


  •  
     
     
     








    Friday, October 12, 2012

    Striking gold!

    It's so cool that someone else thinks finding this photo is a miracle!! (See last Sunday's post) 

    Here is the e-mail that I got from Jolene Allphin today:


    Hi Leslie, Sorry for the tardy response. I am out of town and have limited internet access and limited time as well.
    This photo is incredible. You certainly shouldn't feel badly about finding it during conference! Here is Andrew Olsen's response: "Is this a miracle or what?! It feels like striking gold. What a photo!"
    I will be in touch, Jolene

    Thursday, October 11, 2012

    Prisoner of war

    This is the ID card of my father-in-law when he was in prison camp during WWII.  He was so young, he turned 21 while a prisoner of war.  I think the look on his face says it all.  I never saw him angry so this facial expression is very foreign.  The plane that he was piloting was shot down over Germany.

    Wednesday, October 10, 2012

    Henry & Margaret Todd family

    We got another amazing e-mail from our Irish cousin Sam today.  He visited the "records office" - presumably in Belfast yesterday and found birthdates for these ancestors of Kim's.  Here's his e-mail:
     
     
    David Henry Todd, September 14, 1892.
    John Todd, January 19, 1894.
    Hugh Mawhinney Todd, July 11, 1896.
    Joseph Todd, May 26, 1898.
    Thomas Graham Todd, April 4, 1900.
    Robert Todd, June 17, 1902.
    Katherine Lowry Todd, February 10, 1904.
    James Todd, August 14, 1906.
    Samuel Todd, November 21, 1908.
    Elizabeth (Lillie)Todd, March 19, 1913.
    On my original list I had Margaret born 1890, but could'nt find an exact date to-day.
    Also I found this a few minutes ago on emeraldancestors, could this be Henry Todd's parents ??
    Record TypeCivil Birth
    Date of Birth6 Dec 1868
    NameHenry TODD
    GenderM
    Fathers NameHugh TODD
    Mothers ForenamesJane
    Mothers Maiden NameMCCARTNEY
    Civil District Newtownards
    Sub DistrictComber
    CountyDown
    Record TypeCivil Marriage
    Date of Marriage15 Nov 1859
    Groom Namehugh TODD
    Bride Namejane MCCARTNEY
    ChurchComber First Presbyterian Church
    ParishComber
    Civil DistrictNewtownards
    CountyDown
    If the above are correct then that will take you back another generation.

    Sam

    Tell My Story Too!

    After I found this photo three days ago, on Sunday (see the older post for that day), I was so pumped that it needed to be shared.  I love the work that has been done in compiling the pioneer histories, but no one had shared much information on this family.  I decided to try to contact Jolene Allphin, the author of "Tell My Story Too".  See this website:
    http://tellmystorytoo.com/books/tell-my-story-too-jolene-s-allphin
    I received a reply today:

    Hello Leslie,
    It is really good to hear from you. I would love to have more information about Jane and her mother and any other family members for which you may have information and photos.  My book is, for the most part, a compilation of biographical sketches of individual pioneers, with brief statistical data about the rest of the family (if they were in a family). It is compiled this way for the needs of pioneer treks where each participant takes an individual story and walks for that person. Typically, if one member of a family wrote an account, such as Betsy Smith did, that is the family member I chose for the biography. However, I also titled some of the bios with someone in the family who died, such as Archibald McPhail. That way, in the trek reenactments, if a trekker is carrying the name or story of someone who died on the trail, that can also be reenacted. For instance, if a trek group is crossing Rocky Ridge, and a trekker has Archibald's story, the "trek family" can reenact losing a family member by pulling that person off the handcart for awhile and not allowing him to either help or talk to his family. On all the treks I've been on, it's a very effective way to soften the hardest of hearts and allow the participant to feel and be taught by heavenly influences.
    Anyway, you will be happy to know that there is a new book that I am co-authoring with Andrew Olsen, who wrote the wonderful comprehensive book The Price We Paid. The new book will include most of the artist, Julie Rogers', paintings of these 1856 rescued pioneers. Julie is currently working on paintings representing the Bain/Smith families and Brother Olsen has already written the first draft of the narrative for their family. It includes three paragraphs specific to Jane Smith Coleman. We need her picture to include, and planned to get it from the DUP Museum if we couldn't find one from the family before publishing. (Currently Deseret Book is working with us on publishing this.)
    I have recently identified on a map how to get to the location on the pioneer trail that Robert Bain and Betsey both describe as 3 miles west of the Green River crossing where they first met. It is a sacred site and I am anxious to go there. As a matter of fact, I would love to take you with me if we could coordinate that sometime.
    Jolene Allphin
     
    I'm pumped for the new book - and it would be soooo cool to visit the site that Jolene referred to!!!

    Tuesday, October 9, 2012

    The will of William Hoskins (1804-1873)


    These are the first two pages of the will of William Hoskins (1804-1873).  The original is filed in the Hardin County, Iowa, courthouse.   I sent away for a copy of this will earlier in the year and was so pleased to receive a copy!!  Here is the transcription of the full will:
    In the name of God Amen.
    I William Hoskins of Hardin County Iowa, being on this 18th day of September AD 1873 of sound and disposing mind and memory and being desirous of making disposition of m earthly effects, to be divided after my decease, and in view of the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death I do therefore make and publish this as my last will and testament.
    First – I direct and desire that after my decease all the debts incident to my last sickness and funeral expenses shall first be paid from my estate.
    Second – I direct and desire that all my just debts and liabilities existing at the time of my decease shall next be paid and liquidated. 
    Third – I give and bequeath to my wife Marcilla Hoskins the one third of my estate or the amount that the laws of Iowa vest in her as my wife. 
    Fourth – I give and bequeath to my son George Hoskins the sum of three hundred dollars in money to be paid out of my estate. 
    Fifth – I direct and desire that when all the requirements are fulfilled and all the bequests paid as mentioned in the preceding First, Second, Third and Fourth sections herein, that the remainder of my estate shall be equally divided between my children named as follows: John Hoskins, Thomas Hoskins,  Isaac Hoskins, George Hoskins, Robert Hoskins, Sarah Winterbottom, Huldah Burgess and Mary Ann Moore. 
    Sixth – As I did on the 6th day of September AD1873 rent my farm in Hardin County Iowa to my son Isaac Hoskins for ten years from that date under certain conditions among which was my support and a home during my natural life, I desire that said lease shall be respected and that no efforts shall be made to set the same aside or (?) the same during the time the same is in force, but that all the bequests in my will shall be second to the provisions of said lease. 
    Seventh – I hereby appoint S L Wilson of Hardin County Iowa as my Executor relying on him (?) to carry out all the provision of this will and testament.
    In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of John Stotser and Samuel Harrison, witnesses on this September 18th 1873.
                                                                William Hoskins
    Witnesses        (John (his mark X) Stotser
                            (Samuel Harrison
    State of Iowa
    Hardin County
    We, John Stotser, and Samuel Harrison do hereby certify that on the 18th day of September AD 1873 We signed the foregoing will of William Hoskins as witnesses in his presence and in the presence of each other , and at his request, said William Hoskins stating to us that this is his last will and testament and that we saw him sign his name thereto.  Witness our hands and seals.
    Witnesses        (John (his mark X) Stotser
                            (Samuel Harrison
     
     

    Monday, October 8, 2012

    3 Todd brothers in the "Royal Irish Rifles"

    John, Joseph and Hugh Todd
    Brothers who served in WWI from Comber, Ireland
     
    Today we received, via e-mail, this old newspaper clipping from Kim's second cousin, Sam, who lives in Ireland.  (John Todd is Kim's grandfather.)  Sam has been so amazing with his helpful research!  The Todd's are not even related to Sam, but he has been searching for info to help us.  Sam wrote:
     
    Found this new site www.greatwarbelfastclippings.com and on it are the 3 Todd brothers, e-mailed the site and they sent be a picture of the 3 brothers
    Todd Hugh, Rifleman,RIR, Belfast Road,Comber. (Wounded)
    Todd John, Rifleman, RIR, Belfast Road, Comber. (Wounded,Shell Shock)
    Todd Joseph, Rifleman, RIR, Belfast Road, Comber. (Wounded)

    Sam
    Thanks for getting in touch – attached is one image featuring the three brothers. Unfortunately, the picture is from microfilm version of BET and quality is not great.
    Nigel.
    PS: A member of Comber Historical Society who specialises in WW1 is trying to get more details on the brothers for me.
    Sam
     
    The Todd brothers served in the dreadful Battle of Somme (France) where the English used their Irish troops essentially as cannon fodder - more than 1 million (Irish, English, French and Germans) died in that 5 month long battle alone.  The RIR abbreviation stands for "Royal Irish Rifles".  Hugh Todd was taken as prisoner of war.
     
    It's amazing that the three brothers survived at all!!!
    This is a better photo of Hugh Todd, John Todd and their mother, Margaret Mawhinney Todd, probably taken at the time that the two oldest brothers joined the military in Ireland.

    Sunday, October 7, 2012

    What a find!!!!

    Standing:  Betsy Smith Goodwin, Robert Bain, Mary Smith Anderson
    Seated: May Bain Murdock, Margery May McEwan Bain Smith, Jane Smith Coleman
     
    Lookie, lookie what I found!!  I think my heart stopped beating for a minute when I saw this image!!  I didn't think that I would ever live long enough to see this photo or any photo featuring my 3rd great grandmother, Margery May McEwan Bain Smith. 

    I was listening to general conference (the final speaker, Pres. Monson was closing the session) and I was also working on my family history - multi tasking, you know - when I found this image at findagrave.com. I apologize to Pres. Monson, I don't think I heard too much of his final speech - I was too blown away.

     
    The best thing is that May's (living) children are with her and my 2nd great grandmother is sitting right beside her.  Only another genealogist would know the total thrill that I feel at seeing this photo for the first time!!  It puts a face on someone that I've only read about.  I've often thought about this family and what they endured as handcart pioneers to Utah from Scotland.  What they did was simply amazing and I feel so grateful for their sacrifices.
     
    I'm also grateful to the person who posted the photo and said that anyone could use it for their family history.  That sharing attitude is so common among family history nerds.  The first thing that I wanted to do was share the photo with my family.  I'm thinking that a blog might be the best way to share with everyone.  (Please pardon my feeble attempts to blog - I'm a total beginner!)  Hopefully there will be more fun stuff to come.