Today is National Organize Your Home Day

To Do List and key holder

Today is National Organize Your Home Day.  It is a good reminder of the importance of having an organized home and no it’s not to avoid shame if company drops in unexpectedly.  Rather, our home should be a place of refuge from the crazy world we live in. January is a great time to get your home in order; the weather outside is frightful so naturally we spend more time indoors and in our home. I bet like me de-cluttering, simplifying, or organizing made its way to your New Year’s resolution list.

Speaking of the New Year, have you pulled together last year’s financial records? I like to use a colored envelope for all my tax records (this year’s is blue). I went thru my files from last year, shredded the documents I don’t need to keep 7 years and put the rest in the envelope. When my W2 and 1099s show up, I’ll add them too. By early February I’ll be ready for my accountant.

If the cards you buy tend to be of the belated variety, try Send Out Cards. They will send real cards thru the mail to your friends and family for you. Simply upload your contacts and their birthdays, pick out a card or create your own, tell SOC to send the card on your friend’s birthday and forget about it. In one day, you can setup deliveries for the month or year!

We have photos galore and since I’ve been researching our family tree other family members keep gifting me their photos. So while it is hard to tell, I have made progress scanning picture as I try to reduce the actual photos in the house. I’ll keep plugging away at it in 2015; hopefully it will start to look like I’ve made progress soon.

The lack of visual confirmation of progress with the photos got me looking for a project that I could see more immediate results. The linen closet was my chosen target. Now that that is done, I will spend some time shredding some of the incredible amount of non-financial paper I seem to constantly accumulate, while I contemplate my next de-cluttering project.

Christmas Eve and Apollo 8

Kennedy Space Center 2014

Dad's Naval Academy class holds small yearly reunions at various locations around the country. This year we traveled to Cocoa Beach on Florida's east coast. The location immediately brings to mind "I Dream of Jeannie", astronaut Tony Nelson and Barbara Eden in her jeannie outfit. Like the real life astronauts of the time, Major Nelson blasted off from Kennedy Space Center. One of those real life astronauts was a member of the USNA class of 1955, so unsurprisingly a visit to the space center was a part of the reunion. In one of those could we have timed it any better moments, the exhibition centered on the 1968 Apollo 8 mission in which astronauts Frank F. Borman, II, James A. Lovell, Jr. and USNA ’55 graduate William A. Anders.  

I didn't like taking pictures even at xmas

Apollo 8 was the first manned mission to fly around the moon. It was fascinating to hear the audio from that mission as an adult while reflecting back to my memories of the time. Daddy worked with the Air Force on their space program, so different things were highlighted and celebrated than in most American homes. This flight is a perfect example, my memories center on one aspect of the flight. As the crew began their circle around the moon edging to the back side, I remember my daddy worrying about whether everything would go right and if Bill and his buddies would reappear and re-establish contact with NASA. Daddy worrying about anything was not something my six year old self had experienced, so I knew something very serious was happening. Thankfully they did navigate the spaceship back to the light. All was right with my daddy, his friend and the world so it was time to get back to what matters most to six year olds at that time of year, Christmas!

Meanwhile, there was an important mission still taking place in space. Memorializing the aforementioned feat of flying around the moon, to once again see earth, Bill Anders took one of the most famous pictures ever taken “earthrise”. Rather than taking apart the framed autographed copy off my wall, this one is swiped from the internet.

Besides the Earthrise picture, the part of the mission most Americans remember is the Christmas Eve transmission from the astronauts as they read from the Book of Genesis. So in closing on this Christmas Eve 46 years later I leave you with their transmission, wishing all a Merry Christmas.

Coldwater Creek is Back!

Well Coldwater Creek is sorta back. The name is back and some of the merchandise is back, but the stores are gone. I originally found out about Coldwater Creek, when thumbing throughout the endless catalogs seemingly every store in America would send my mom. This catalog quickly became a favorite of both of us. Their fun styles in awesome colors filled both of our wardrobes.

Fast forward to 2006 and a trip to Denver where I found an outdoor mall that had one of the first Coldwater Creek stores. Now I’ll refrain from commenting on the absurdity of a two story outdoor mall in Colorado in winter time. However, every woman I know will understand the lengths we will go to visit our favorite store. On another trip, I found a CC in Charlotte, NC. You can guess how excited I was when I discovered the new mall in Chester would have a Coldwater Creek I would pass on the way to work every day.

Then things started to change, the styles weren’t as cute, the colors not so on target and the quality began to slip. CC stopped being my go to store. It was by chance that I happened to stop in the store in May, only to find out the chain would close in 60 days. I was bummed at the close of this chapter.

As I reviewed my winter wardrobe after the first snow I realized I need a couple of turtlenecks. I checked the tags of my favorites and no surprise they were Coldwater Creek sweaters. On a lark I did a google search and what to my wondering eyes did appear than a coldwatercreek.com link that worked! I quickly ordered up a sweater or two and am anxiously awaiting the delivery. For now Coldwater is only online and has a limited selection. Hopefully the quality is what it once had been; if so, I’m sure the CC fan base will encourage a wider selection in the future.

So the sweater arrived today. It is not the same style as the old CC. It's nice though, a lighter weight and more cling so not as forgiving as the old style, but the material is super soft.

Online Wreath Sponsorship Deadline Extended to Dec 3

I was interviewed this morning for an article on the Wreaths Across America event being held at the combined cemeteries of the 1st Presbyterian Church and United Methodist Church by Fred Aun from the new online news service servicing Roxbury, Tap Into Roxbury. As the headlline notes, the big news is you still have 3 days, including #givingTuesday to sponsor a wreath for our location by going to www.roxburywaa.org. And if I haven't mentioned it before, sponsorships are tax deductible. 

Fred took a great shot of the cemetery covered in snow which I am fervently praying will melt prior to December 13th. Check out his article to find out more about the WAA event in Succasunna.

Over Here, Molly Pitcher

Molly Pitcher
(Stacy Roth of History on the Hoof)

Hear the tales of the legend of Molly Pitcher and the Battle of the Monmouth County as we celebrate NJ’s 350th birthday on November 15^th at 10:15am. Late June, 1778, Monmouth, New Jersey in the midst of one of the fiercest artillery duels of the American Revolution, a woman was observed doing something unusual: helping to fire a cannon! Thus sprang the legend of Molly Pitcher. “Over Here, Molly Pitcher” is an interpretive storytelling presentation highlighting the lives of women who “belonged to the army” during the American Revolution. This Molly’s “memories” are gathered from primary accounts and carefully selected secondary sources describing both the activities of camp followers, as well as observations from campaigns and encampments. The event hosted by the Ferro-Monte Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is at the Roxbury Township Free Public Library 103 Main St, Succasunna, NJ on November 15th at 10:15am. Open to the public the lively presentation is performed by Stacy Roth from History on the Hoof. This program is funded by the Horizons Speakers Bureau of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. For more information about the Horizons Speakers Bureau please visit http://njch.org/programs/hsb/.

If you have an interest in learning about your family tree, we can help you; maybe we can even find a Patriot among your leaves. Prospective members are always welcome. For information, email: NJDARFerroMonte@aol.com. 

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote patriotism, preserve American history, and support better education for our nation's children. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With more than 165,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world's largest and most active service organizations. To learn more about the work of today's DAR, visit www.DAR.org.

First Families

"I believe the dead rely on us to tell their stories and that leave is up to you and me." ~ Jessica Fletcher in Murder She Wrote

My 2nd great-grandfather has been inducted into the First Families of Blair County, Blair County in Pennsylvania was formed in 1846 from parts of Hunterdon and Bedford County. The county seat is Hollidaysburg, but the largest most recognized town is Altoona, originally home to the Pennsylvania Railroad. John saw the birth of that railway, the nation torn apart by civil war and the the introduction of automobiles making his saddlery business obsolete.

Blair County Townships Map

Below is my mini-biography submitted to the First Families of Blair County:

John L Ritts was born 30 Mar 1833 to Thomas and Catherine Lower Ritts in North Woodbury, Bedford County, Pennsylvania. The Thomas Ritts family which included son John and daughters, Catherine, Elizabeth, Martha, Mary and Lydia all resided in what became Blair County in 1846. John married Mary Shoenfelt in 1856 shortly after Taylor Township formed. John who followed in his father’s footsteps as a saddle and harness maker settled with his bride a few doors down from his parents in the new township. 

John and Mary had six children:

Catherine Jane (11 Sep 1857 - 28 Nov 1937) m. Peter Grove
Sarah Anne (27 Mar 1859 - 28 Apr 1943)
Albert S (27 Mar 1861 - 09 Jul 1951) m. Janet Butler
Harry Samuel (Apr 1863 - 04 Jul 1949) m. Elizabeth Hudson
Luria (1869 – bef 1880)
John Elmer (03 May 1871 – bef 1949) m. Rose Hardman

John served briefly in the Civil War as a Private. John and Mary were married for 48 years. While on the way to visit her sister, Susan Tipton, wife Mary was tragically killed as the trolley she was riding jumped the tracks plunging into the Juniata River. In a subsequent trial against Altoona and Logan Valley Railroad, John was awarded $1200. 

A lifelong resident of Blair County, John L Ritts passed away at age 78 of heart disease on 6 Jul 1911. He is buried in Antis Cemetery along with his son Harry’s family.

First Tuesday of November

Tomorrow is the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November, better known as Election Day. 

A uniform date for presidential elections was enacted by the Congress in 1845. Why was November chosen? In the 1840s the US was largely an agronomy society. By early November, harvesting would be completed and the winter snows would not have set in. Short distance transportation was accomplished by foot or hoof. It could easily take citizens a day to get to their polling location. Throw in astute political intuition that Sunday Sabbath was absolute, Monday would be needed by many to get to the polls, and Tuesday became the day to vote. So what is up with the first Tuesday after the first Monday thing? Well the Electoral College must convene the first Wednesday in December with the election held at most 34 days prior. Some bright soul figured out that if there is a November Monday before the first November Tuesday the math works.

This year some Senate seats and all of the House of Representatives seats are up for grabs. As are a host of State and local races around the country. Here in my corner of New Jersey we have County Freeholders and School Board races coming to a conclusion. What will that conclusion be? That is up to you and me. So exercise your civic duty and go vote!

PS. To anyone that votes at the Roxbury High School, we have treats and I Voted stickers!