Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

~~~Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy and Healthy New Year~~~

I hope you are all enjoying the Christmas season. The weather today in my location in Canada is sunny with the temperature just hovering around the freezing point and the snow is still sparkling, even after rain overnight.

Your letters and photos are all very interesting, and it is nice to imagine your lives in the various states in which you all reside.

With best wishes to all from your British relation in Canada,

Mavis.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Christmas King.

It may be small for a King Salmon. It's the first one I've ever caught in December, first I've caught in saltwater. Just returned from Old Harbor, Alaska on the island of Kodiak. I with a friend his dad and his uncle were on a hunting, fishing combo. It was cold, rainy, snowy, windy and wet. Wouldn't have it any other way.

Happy New Year,

Ed

Photo shoot with Santa

Last night we all met at the Alameda Theater to have our photos taken with Santa. (Do you recognize him?). Ronnie has been in the hospital this past week but is recovering beautifully and this has made it a really "WONDERFUL" Christmas for the family! We are all so lucky!
Here is a photo of Taylor, Ryan, Santa and Ronnie. (Taylor and Ryan are a couple).

Logan, Mike and Rose's son is just a little leery of Grandpa Santa!

Bill and Mike finally find out who the "real Santa" is.

Danielle Bince and her 8 week old Boston Terrier pup, Dude, who is meeting our family for the first time.
Chris, Larry, Ronnie and Kathy. We wish you all the happiest of holidays!

New address

Hello and Happy Holidays,
We have been busy with lots of visitors lately and still enjoying our new house. Christmas is fast approaching and we are busy shopping and looking forward to a few well deserved days off work. We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New years. I'm not sure if I told anyone our new address, so here it is: The Chase's 20007 N. 33rd Drive Phoenix, AZ 85027

Love to you all.
Mae and family

Short Video by Ryan Bince

I don't know whether or not you are all aware of it, but it is my goal to become a Director. I am currently applying to colleges, and I had to make a video for one. The guidelines were this: create a 2-minute video about yourself that does not feature you. This video should tell about important things in your life other than film, and should also have a story line.

This is what I came up with....

ps, I highly recomend that you full-screen the video with the moving button in the bottom left hand corner. The website parameters cut off the right-most part of the video, so you won't see the entire picture if you don't watch the video in full-screen.

More Updates

Grandma Brady carries all the necessities including her bottle of Sangria to her monthly meeting with friends, Kathy and Pam and Aunt Lois. I was lucky enough to get to go see the "girls" in action which is always great fun. Celeste and Ellen are going to be taking Mom to Chicago for 5 days later this month. I know they will have a wonderful time seeing the sights and visiting with friends and relatives there

More great news... Kathy Berquist's house has sold and she will officially be coming here on November 8th. Now she won't have to worry about heating and taxes while waiting for a sale. A moral here could be "go ahead with your life and the details will work themselves out."

We have officially started our rainy season (winter) with a whopper of a tropical storm today. We sure do need the rain. I hope you all are enjoying your autumn wherever you are! Love, Irene

Updates from CA

Hi, family. I'm posting these photos because I'm bringing a computer to Grandma's and I want to show her some of these photos of my studio space and also of ....

Big Billa, and .....

little Pila.....

and his Momma, Miriam. Right now he prefers to suck his toes!

Project Open Hand- Plate2Plate

The weather gods were with us after our sweltering day yesterday, and our shoes were festooned with high tech gadgets to mark our time and whether we did indeed start and finish the Plate 2 Plate Challenge at Giants Stadium fundraiser for Project Open Hand over in the City.

Ida, Bobbi, Simone, Cele and I wore happy smiles prior to lining up at the Starting Gate. The highlight of the walk was being about to walk around the field inside the stadium and actually step on Home Plate and then scurry outside to head for the finish.


Here is our happy crowd just having passed the finish line and ready for a coffee and a free Giants game this afternoon. Giants beat the Colorado Rockies. Yeaaay. Such an enjoyable day filled with camaraderie, compassion, and expansive views of our beautiful bay while watching a major league baseball game. Such is the life of a happy walker.

Joo--eee

Joey

Joey was my cat. He came in each night at 9pm and sat on my chest while I watched my late night movie. Every morning he met me for breakfast (his) and had coffee with me in the garden on our swinging bench under the potato vines. We watched the birds and the squirrels. The rest of the day he guarded our yard from marauders including our dog, Bolo. They had an interesting relationship as Joey was older when Bolo was a pup and Bolo never had the upper hand, although he tried. He would come just so close and then recoil. We all played chase around the back yard. For the past few weeks, Joey had hidden away after a bad diagnosis from the vet. We couldn't find him anywhere and then he turned up in the kitchen a few nights ago and we found out where he had been...all settled in a box in the basement which he closed. Today I took him in. I will miss him.

First day of school.

Hello family members! Just thought I'd update you all on the new stuff happening in our lives. The girls started school this past Monday. Lydia is now in 6th grade and is enjoying being the oldest in the school, this year she has four teachers and is practicing switching classes in preparation for middle and High school. Ava is starting full day Kindergarten and is trying to be brave but is having some trouble adjusting to the long days and missing me. Everyday has been a little better so in no time at all she'll have it licked. I started work at the girls school part-time and am trying to figure it all out too! A little chaotic these first few days for me and the girls. Dave is working again out in Cave Creek at a bike shop, there wasn't enough work right now to continue on his own at our house. BUT the most exciting part is on Sept. 1st we'll be moving into a new house across the street from ours. It's a 4 bedroom, two bath and along with a 2 car garage attached to the house it has a huge work shop in the back for Dave and his motorcycle business. We can't wait and are very excited to have more space and a nice new place to move into. Love to all of you and I'll send pictures of the new place once we're settled in. Mae

Finally landed a job

Hi all, how is everyone doing? I just completed my first full week at my new job. I was hired by Fairport Central School District as a Programmer Analyst. I will be developing .NET programs along with maintaining systems I put in place while I was there as an intern. I completed all three of RIT's required internships at the school district so I already am familiar with everyone and it is great to be back. All of my coworkers are great and the IT director is doing a lot of new things with technology in the classroom and I am excited to have the opportunity to help.

Plus I get state benefits, my own office, and I can ride my bike to work every day because it is only about 10 minutes away. I am really excited =)

Family Reunion

Hey Family! Do we want to start planning another family reunion? I would love to see you all again. I would like to offer to host the reunion at our place. If it is more convenient for it to be held somewhere else that is fine too.

Should we plan to have it next summer? Thoughts.................

Love you all. Heidi

Photos for Aunt Harriet's Article (See below)

Another Dutch Treat

Extra, Extra...read all about it....Grandpa Harmen Albertse Vedder and family buried in local Mall! Now, come on, how many people do you know who go to a mall to buy shoes, but instead grab a quarter-pounder and a coke and sit by their Grandpa's grave and chew the fat? Well I can and so could you if you lived in Schenectady, NY and shopped at the Rotterdam Square Mall. How neat is that! Cemeteries and malls don't usually mix, but at this mall, there is one right by the door and it belongs to our family. Supposedly the only way they could build the Rotterdam Mall was to leave the Vedder family cemetery be. They just built the Mall around it!

Grandpa Vedder came to America in 1663 from the Netherlands and was one of the original settlers in Beverwick (now Albany). Selling his land in Albany, he and 14 other colonists from Beverwick founded the city of Schenectady. It was pretty interesting to find out that of the 15 original founders, we are related to seven of the families. But a truly ASTONISHING finding a few days ago is the fact that Grandpa Vedder and two of our other Dutch Grandfathers were married to Mohawk women. This confirms my own convictions that we, indeed, have Native American blood running through our veins!! I just knew it...I knew it. Should get a good seat at the Casino now!

I am having my DNA tested ( an 85th birthday gift from my girls)..won't that be a "kick" of a letter when the Widow Grady "tells all" about her (and your) ethnic background!

OK get out of the pool you're getting as wrinkly as I am. Here's a little genealogical quip for the day. "She's descended from a long line her Mother listened to."
I love you, all my darling relatives....The Widow Grady

They say these things come in Threes.

Happy 4th everyone!

What are everyone's plans for the holiday? I will be doing a little gardening. I have a few rubbermade containers setup outside my apartment and I am growing tomatoes, yellow bell peppers, cucumbers, habaneros(I cant wait), carrots, chives, thyme, catnip, and I have a container of mixed herbs but I am not sure what is growing in it yet.

Sadie and I are thinking about going somewhere for a picnic, but we will see how the weather is. Then we will be going to our town's fireworks display tonight.

My week heading up to our July 4th holiday has been interesting for me. They say that bad things come in sets of three, and I think I have had my three things.

It all started on Monday, I have been riding my bike to work mostly every day and I had gone to the grocery for some lunch. I was bringing it back to work and I was hit by a car while crossing a crosswalk. The driver had stopped and appeared to be waiting for me (since I had the right-of-way) so I crossed in front of him. When I was right in front of the drivers side of the car, he started going and knocked me off the bike. He didn't notice he had hit me and continued to accelerate to get over the bike and dragged the bike a good 30 feet or so before he realized what had happened. A tow truck had to be called in to lift the car off of my bike and I could tell right away that it was totalled. The frame was damaged so it cannot be repaired. The driver claimed that he never saw me or even noticed that he hit me, a few days later he told me that he turns 96 later this month. He has agreed to pay for any damages and once I get that payment I will be ordering a replacement bike.

My second issue occurred on Wednesday night. My computer monitor stopped working =( After troubleshooting, I determined that the problem was the monitor itself. Acer has asked me to ship it to TX to be repaired... I am just hoping that whatever is wrong with it is covered under my warranty. In the mean time I won't be able to use my computer for a few weeks while I wait for my monitor. Which of course really stinks, because I use it a lot every day.

And my third thing happened on Thursday. One of my coworkers needed a jump because he had left his lights on. Sadie and I received a roadside emergency kit for Christmas and we had not even opened it yet. I thought it was a great opportunity to use it. Unfortunately, the cables must have had a short or were just plain cheap, because it almost immediately started smoking and melting the plastic, so I reached down to remove the cables from my battery and burned my right hand pretty good right at the base of my thumb. I am fine but opening bottles is difficult.

All in all, I am just happy that I am alright. In the accident I hurt my chin, right elbow, and bruised both knees but I am healing well.

I hope everyone enjoys their weekend. Happy July 4th =)

Sure wish more people would write in....

Any problems logging into the newsletter? Please send your latest info. I love you all.

Irene

New Pictures of the Girls

Summer has been wonderful so far. Lydia has been in summer camp. She is taking Medical Science right now and next will have a week of Space Physics. Ava's camp didn't work out as planned so we've been busy going to library events and reading groups at our local book stores.

We have plans to visit Duluth June28-July7. Can't wait to see my mom (Kathleen), I'll be sure to post pictures of our visit when we return. Love to all of you and I'd love to hear if any of you have fun summer plans. Bye-Bye for now.

Newest Family Member

William Sitaleki Thomas
May 23, 2009
8 Pounds 7 Oz., 21 3/4 in.

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Party for the Angioma Alliance

Me, Christine, Ronnie & Kathy

Handsome Ryan and Kathy

The fundraising party was a great success. Hundreds of people attended and had a great meal and danced to DJ from our San Francisco station KMEL. I got to see lots of Sharon Kathy & Mike's friends from grammar and high school and we told old stories about the past. One girl said she'll always remember my initials were ICABM. ( I always worried that I would marry someone with the last name of M, because ICAB was very cute).

Larry and Mike

Monica, Me and Bill

Ronnie has a condition called Cavernous Angiomas which is a genetic disease and their children have a 50/50 chance of developing CAs as well. So Kathy has made a commitment to help fund research and awareness of the condition. Last night she and her good friends raised over $6000 for research. I am so proud of her.

Love to you all.

P.S. I don't know too much but I understand Marion is quite ill, and I will be keeping her and her family in my thoughts. We love you Marion.

Bits of News

Celeste is now visiting Mom in Gloversville. The weather has shifted from the 90 degree mark and should hit 30 degrees tonight. Mom is expecting some guests, Mr. & Mrs. Young, for a few days on Saturday. I may be 63 years old, but our Chicago neighbors will always be Mr. & Mrs. to me. I used to babysit for the Youngs at age 12-13 when they only had 6 children! I think they eventually had 12. I'll always remember Mrs. Young was forever laughing....

I wish I could be there to see them after all these years.

Last weekend we had a shower for Miriam and John. We all had a wonderful time. It was a carnivore's delight. Chicken, ribs, oysters, hamburgers, hot links... The men played dominoes while the women insisted they play a few baby games and oooed and ahhhed at the wonderful baby gifts.

Goodbye, Tasha

My folks adopted Tasha shortly after I left for college, between Thanksgiving & Christmas of 1996. They had an empty nest, so it was time to get a dog. While it wasn't intentional, they got a black lab to replace the son who dressed all in black.

I met her just before Christmas when I came home. She was just over a year old at the time, rather protective & paranoid. When I walked through the door, she leapt off the couch, ready to attack the stranger. I put out my hand; she recognized the scent from my old room, and instantly became mellow and affectionate.

Tasha had an innate understanding of reciprocal affection. She'd be lying in Mom's chair (as seen in the picture), and if you sat down on the floor and started to pet her, she'd try to wrap her arm around yours. And once she knew who you were, she was always excited to see you. If she saw two people hugging ("bye, Mom, see you next year"), she'd run up, bark, and try to get in on the hug, too.

Tasha was also a bit rambunctious. The squeaky "human foot" toy was her favorite (outside of the rawhide chews, of course), and would follow it wherever you moved it. She loved play fighting, and knew exactly when to stop.

As is natural, she started slowing down in the past couple of years. Her hearing & sight deteriorated. There was a close call in January, where she wouldn't get up and had trouble eating. Mom got her to eat some baby food & aspirin, and that got her up. But a day or two ago, she just stopped moving around, and had no interest in food.

Tasha died this morning. She wasn't in any pain. She had a good, long, happy life, and because of her, so will we.

Paula & the Peeps

Friday morning I just couldn't stand it another minute I needed a Peep fix! So off I go to the Kroger near my office to get my fill of those yummy yellow sugary treats , while in the store what should by eyes gaze upon but a table covered with Paula's new cook book, The Deen Family Cookbook

A small sign announced that Paula would be in the Kroger that afternoon signing her book from 5 to 7 pm. With Peeps and book in hand (40% off the suggested retail price) I happily checked out returned to work munching my Peeps and waiting for 5 o'clock.

Returning to the store we were given a number mine was 0178 (by the time I left the line had grown to over 600) and was told that they would call us in groups of 50, I could bearly contain myself, as they time went by the number people in the store began to grow each of us clutching our books and asking "has she arrived yet?" and sure enough at about 5:20 she arrived along with her husband Michael, Kroger was out of control!

Paula and Michael looked just like they do on television and as sweet as any two people could be. It was a nice way to end a very hetic week!

Here is one of my family's favorite Paula Deen's desserts. My son in law Peter and his brother Max love it and I make it for many of our family get togethers, when Lindsey, Max's wife was pregnant with their son Riley I kept her cravings under control with this yummy dessert:

Not Yo Mammas Banana Pudding

Ingredients
2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies
6 to 8 bananas, sliced
2 cups milk
1 (5-ounce) box instant French vanilla pudding
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipped cream
Directions
Line the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top.
In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer. Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth. Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended. Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Enjoy!

Cows go 'moo' not who!!!!!

Happy Easter Everyone!

COWS, WHO?...

Cows!

WHO'S THERE????

From Kathy with a K.

Donza avor putt yora boots avay!!!! Holi Cowa, tha ski turnd tha colar ofv woola died dark wyth powdar froom grond sea rokz. Evorthing els turnd tha colar ofv milk witha crem inn itt, butta tha glaz windoes ald lookd blakish.

Tha vilig gotta kquitt forah wyl. kno bryds, kno khildrans, kno animules, kno cartsa coold be herda.

Ald tha peepole knen whannaws coming. Tha wintar witkiz anda goblirs wold have thar vay, wyth thim. Canot cee thim, butt u cann herr thim. Thay howl, screem, and lauf, az thay swirall arond inn the chimbanees, and harthz, anda ratle tha windoes anda doerz. How happee thay r too gitta cancz too bloow ott a fier inn a harthz.

Tha wynds went wyld, ooo how fast thay bloo. Thoz goblirs luv tha wynd, thay flapd anda twirld anda poold at ald tha hutts.

Snow flue sydwyz at tha land. Tha ryn bloo sydwyz too. Itt froz az itt hyt tha treez, howzez anoa fenzez. Ooo tha por byrdz war thrown bak intoo tha tre branciz.

Soo tha peepole knew ald thay cood do waz bery thimzulvs undar thar quiltz anda furrz inn thar hutts. Goblirs r vary hrd too cee, thay loke lyk wite webbz fliing fazt, tha webbz stik too evorthig onn tha hutts. Thar war yillonz ofv thim. Soo thay kovord tha hutts kyk frozta. Goblirrs luv too be frezin anda luv too heelp cill tha ayr.

Now tha wintar witkiz wayd thar wy too tha chimbanees, harthz, windoes, anda doerz. Thezz witkiz r natty. U woon rabit turnd from brown to whit from fere.

Tha wintar witkiz anda goblirs wer havng thar foon, ooo yez thay war. A goblir jumpd ona horzez bak anda rod itt soo fast allv tha fere fel offa tha horze, how horibell.

Horz anda horz pasd tha peepole cyrd thimzelvz too slepe. Thar ters turnd too iz undar thar quiltz. Wen that wook, tha snow hd stopd. Al tha doerz war pushd opend, evorwer tha peepole gathrd too akz, "who putt thar boots avay?"

Moral ofv storey: Wat evor u doo, donja avor putt your boots avay, a storm az alvays near. Tha end.

...KNOCK KNOCK!

Hi, from Irene

Dear Family,

Just a quick note to say, please don't feel you have to write something monumental on this newsletter. Please drop in and just let us know what you are doing this spring, I'd love to hear from you all. Whatcha doin? Howyrfeelin? Wazzup?

Love, Mom/Aunt/Grandma/Sis/ Daughter/Niece/Cousin Irene

Post Script

Post Script to Glen-Sanders Mansion

The Glen Sanders Mansion in Soctia, NY as it called today, is one of the most beautiful, prosperous and expensive dining and wedding reception halls in the Central New York area, on a par with the fabulous trappings afforded diners in the Spa City of Saratoga. Not wanting to sound too much like the brochure for the Mansion, I am adding this little script because I think it is sooo neat that we can still eat breakfast in Grandpa Alexander Glen's kitchen. Although the Mansion is no longer owned by the Glen- Sanders family, family members lived in the original home until 1961 when it was sold. Sadly, our claim (Rasmussen) to the original home site was lost due to the marriage of our cousin Deborah Glen (1713-1786) only child of Col. Jacob Glen, brother of Major John's who inheirted the land site and mansion after Grandpa John died.(1731.) When Uncle Jacob died, Deborah, now Mrs. John Sanders, was sole heir (but female) and the property was turned over to her husband John Sanders according to the law.

The most thrilling news about the Mansion that I just read last week was an article online regarding "Legends Surrounding the Mansion" and if you are interested in paranormal activity...a must read!! I really have never passed on a "link" but I will try. OK now. The name of the site is "Explore the Ultimate Mind Frontier" and this pops up..Unexplained Mysteries::ISIS investigates the Glen Sanders Mansion.

http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/column.php?id=143825

Love The WG

The Widow Grady Rules

The Widow Grady has only one rule for you to follow when reading these little stories about your ancestors. A reference to a grandfather can be a grandfather (grandmother, cousin, aunt, etc.) from any generation and will be designated according to the years in which he or she lived. For example: "Grandpa Alexander Lindsey Glen (1610-1685) and the Mansion" or "Cousin Peter Lasher (1822-1844) and the Civil War." It grieves me to start a story that begins, Your 36th great-great grandfather was, or worse yet, your 2nd cousin 5 times removed was. I have ten fingers and ten toes to count with, which get me "only to the 20th generation"...after that, I am reduced to using some weird math calculations that tax my thinking ability and would in any event, confuse you no end so..... remember, a time line will give you a clue to where you are in the gene pool...are you ready...one, two, three...JUMP

A little background imagery before the story of "Major Glen and the Pickle Barrel."

Grandpa Alexander Lindsey Glen (1610-1685) had this stone house...well let's say, mansion that he built on the northern side of the Mohawk River on land that actually belonged to the Native Americans of the Mohawk Tribe. Grandpa Glen, being a Scotsman named his land and homestead Nova Scotia (literally meaning New Scotland) and proceeded to start up a thriving business. Everybody loved Grandpa Glen...the whole countryside gathered at the mansion at one time or another. Grandpa was an agent for the Dutch India Co. so naturally, being only 100 feet away from the river, his stone house was used as a trading post....evidently he was well regarded by all as an honest and fair trader and in appreciation for everyone's business at the post, Grandpa built the settlers their very own Dutch Reformed Church (1682) in Schenectady the city just across the river from Scotia. As I said before, everybody loved Grandpa Glen...and most of all the .....the Mohawk Indians loved Grandpa, or was it a particular grassy knoll they had a fondness for? On a certain hill between the river and the stone house was a spot that the Indians had previously used in the "gladsome pastime of burning their prisoners at the stake!" All I can say as a grandaughter (1924-) is "if there was such a thing as an Indian mafia, Grandpa Glen allowed this depravity to continue in payment for protection , for it was well known our family most often remained safe when Indian raids took place upon the white settlers in the region...But I have nightmares that I can hear Grandma Catherine calling out the kitchen door ...all you kids...get in the house NOW!

Major John and the Pickle Barrel

Grandpa Major John Glen (1648-1731) made some improvments in his father's mansion and added the east wing...super for entertaining. At one point in time, the Mohawks brought a Jesuit priest to Grandpa's house so that the priest could be tortured and killed on the knoll used for this purpose. The Indians wanted John to lock the priest in his cellar until it was time to kill him. John, a very fast thinker, and Grandma Anna(1651-1690) asked for time to think about it because priests had magical powers, and no cellar with an ordinary lock such as his, would be able to confine him. However, Grandpa John said yes, gave the Indians a single key, warned them that they would have to get the priest out themselves the next day because he was too afraid of priestly magical powers and he would have no part in it! Having locked the priest in the cellar, the Indians went dancing out into the yard with the key swinging on a chain and became significantly drunk on the rum graciously supplied to them by Grandpa John. With a plan in mind and before the Indians became completely zonked, John told them he was sending a wagon into town for supplies and not to be concerned if they heard noises. With the Indians now "out cold", Grandpa John opened the cellar door with a second key, popped the priest in a large pickle barrel and sent him off to freedom. It took some swift talking by John to reassert the story of magical powers when the next morning found the priest gone missing. The Indians more than a little disgruntled nevertheless left in complete puzzlement. Because of many instances of kindness to the French whose lives were saved from torture and death, Grandpa Major John Glen and our family were protected by French commanders as well as the Native Americans during the French and Indian wars.

Everbody loves a great party and our family was no exception. The Glen mansion was the gathering place of all the Scotia- Schenectady hoi-polloi and I am sure Grandma and Grandpa Glen were thrilled to have the honor of housing the future King of France, Louis Philippe, who was their guest for a few days during his time of exile in America. Can't you just imagine the hustle and bustle in the mansion that Saturday night when our family went dancing with the stars...not to mention the bedding down of everybody's favorite General,who had the reputation of "kinda sleeping around" when he paid them a visit? Though I see no evidence of a sign on the mansion that states "Washington Slept Here" the powers that be say it is so...hey..believe!

O.K. everyone ...out of the pool and remember that the cheapest way to have your family tree traced is to run for public office.....The Widow Grady

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Greetings from the city that dyes their river a brighter shade of green than it is the rest of the year, for this festive O'cassion!!!! This weekend (as every year) we are treated with 2 separate parades. Saturday's parade is tied to the dying of the river (or as some may call it, the North Side parade, and then Sunday is the South Side Irish parade. Both are celebrated by all, but the craziest bunch is definitely from the South side, where many of us were born and raised!


About 6 months ago, we hired a new person to our group at work, and she is actually from the South Side, and has deep family ties to Evergreen Park! I also found out that Vicki plays in the "Stockyard Kilty Band" ...her and her brother are part of the 60+ members in this "Irish" band, and they play the bag pipes.... As I planned my annual St. Patty's Day Party (this year was actually the 7th consecutive party I have hosted), I thought BAG PIPES! Vicki and her brother Mike, were happy to fit me into their VERY hectic schedule this weekend, and I SURPRISED my party goers with live bag pipe players!!! What a fun time, they just walked right into the house playing authentic Irish music! They played three additional songs, and stayed for an informative question and answering session for everyone. This is a deep family tradition for Vicki and Mike, and really love what they do, and how much it means to their family and ancestors.


Here is a picture taken from the party. Also, I TRIED uploading a video of Vicki and Mike playing Amazing Grace, and their encore song for the evening, but I am doing something wrong. I will try and figure out how to upoad the video, it's pretty cool!!! Til then! I hope everyone has a very Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Saying hello!

Just saying hello to everyone from sunny Florida!! Thank you Aunt Irene for sending me this link. Great way to stay up to date on everyone's lives! Hope all is well with everyone and make sure to have a great St Patrick's Day! 

Love,

Danielle, Tommy, and Noah

Starting Line

"Eating Hot Dogs at a Dog Race"?

My pick as the winner. Martin Bauser.

Good luck to all the dogs.

"Mush you Huskies"

Ed

Iditarod 2009

The 2009 Iditard starts in about an hour. It's less than 1 mile from my house. Pictures to follow later.
Ed

From Grandma Dorothy Brady

Dear Kin and Countrymen,

Greetings from the great Northeast! My house is surrounded by snow and despite the sun, it is frigid. It has been a long season.

Recently, Irene and Kathy visited me. What a joy to have them here. We relived old times and made new memories. I love company so each of you are welcome at any time. Please make a plan.

How nice it is to have a family newsletter. I look forward to each issue to hear the latest news. It amazes me to see how big our group has become. Jim would have been so proud of our brood. I am anxiously waiting to hear of the birthday of my 23rd great-grandchild. Thank you for bringing me a great genealogy.

I hope the spring and summer will bring a nicer forecast and some more exciting news. Till then, love and osculations, from Grandma Brady

A weekend at the Chase's

Hello Family,
Thanks for all the nice comments on Facebook. We have found through all these crazy happenings of lately that we are much loved by neighbors, friends and family and we feel very grateful to everyone for their love and support. Love to you all, Mae

Welcome to the Gene Pool

Ancestors come in all shapes and sizes. All have different temperments, mental acuity and moral values. Some are famous and others infamous but none the less they all are part of "who we are".
We constantly make comparisons within the family as each new child is born. R. Biagioni wrote the perfect formula for a new baby. "1 tsp. of grandma's eyes; 2 shakes of Uncle Fred's blond hair; a pinch of great-grandpa's smile". And such it is--a blend of all who have come before us--we are!
So...let us all...Moms, Dads, Kids, Grandchildren, Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Nephews Cousins anyone who is related to Dorothy Rasmussen Brady, Harriet Rasmussen Grady or Lois Rasmussen Berger Koplin, hold hands and jump into the Rasmussen Gene Pool and together find out some FUN things about your heritage. As family historian, I have found many interesting stories, both funny and touchingly sad that I would love to share with you...they are your stories, too! I have run across things that will both thrill and chill you. We have danced equally with royalty and with the skeletons we have pulled from the closet. We have applauded the honest man and sat in the stocks with dissidents.We have tilled the soil and sailed the oceans. We have fought in every war since the Crusades and beyond. We have loved all passionatly and hated some with vengeance. We are all connected with the common bond of family and we are who we are!
I hope to send a story every month and as added fun some quip or quote pertaining to genealogy. I am sending this one today.

A family historian who was writing his family history was dismayed
to find that an ancestor had been publicly hanged. In a moment of
inspiration he wrote "He died during a public ceremony, when the
platform upon which he was standing collapsed beneath him".

Goodbye, and remember we can't choose our ancestors, but that's fair enough. They probably wouldn't have chosen us! The Widow Grady

Its Snowing - In Atlanta!!

After living in Atlanta for 8 years I thought I would be used to the crazy winters we have, cold raining, and yes occasionally, like today snow.

Before we know it it will be Hotlanta once again but just for a few hours we get a little bit of home in our own backyard.

Happy 30th Birthday Emily.

You have grown up to be a sweet and loving and hard working young women.

You are an awesome wife and a true friend. You are a mother's dream!!

I'm so glad you loved the aprons I made, more are on the way.

Two trips

Hi, Everyone,

Just a quick note to say that I have been to New York to visit Mom, and the Aunties, also the Brothers and Sisters. As usual when I arrive, I bring lots and lots of snow with me, because I need a vacation in some snowy area and what better place than Upstate NY. Naturally most people in Upstate NY would not agree with me. I loved sitting in Mom's snuggly place, gazing through all the colored glass out at the white bright snow, drifting, approximately 8 ft tall around the plowed edges of Deer Creek Blvd. Mom and I watched our favorite HGTV shows (mine is divine design), and lots of game shows and some of Mom's most lurid crime shows. I think she's making up for Dad not allowing her to see the Graduate at the movies.

Not long after my return, Bill and I took our camper up the north coast toward Mendocino and had a wonderful time there, watching the sea lions and seeing lighthouses and sleeping to the sound of the ocean waves.

We are having lots of rain these past two weeks, but I wonder if it will be enough to relieve our 2 year drought. This summer will be year 3 and rationing will continue unless we have rain every day during March. Hope so. But for now the calla lillies bloom along the coast along with little iris and mushrooms. I think I may send an email to each of you asking you to please check in here with news and updates of your lives. I love you all. Irene

Hello from Aunt Harriet

Dear Family,
I am finally able to post to this family blog. More later...

Trying to establish Aunt Harriet

Dear Family, I am trying to introduce Aunt Harriet as the Widow Grady. I hope this works.
Love, Irene

THIS IS THE TIME OF OUR LIVES

Reading the Sunday paper today, in PARADE Magazine there was a letter written by President Elect Obama to his daughters Malia and Sasha. While reading I could not help but to think of my granddaughter Paige, just 3 1/2 eyes filled with wonder and questions ready to be asked, the world open to every possibility she ever could image.

The words he wrote to his daughters are words we can pass on to our own children and worlds we as adults should live by.

"Right the wrongs you see and work to give others the changes you've had."He also writes, "And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other." "These are the things I want for you-to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and grow inot compassionate, committed women who will build that world.

To all of my family, I wish you peace, hope and love as we watch our counrty take one giant step forward on Tuesday.

Saved by Zero

Zero! I haven't see it in over 2 weeks. Zero I haven't seen -10° or -20°. We are having a little cold spell. The high temperature at my house has not got above -25° for the last two weeks. Just this morning it was -38° when I left for work. Get ready the weather people up here said this high pressure should move out by this weekend, and head south. It seem the winter weather has been crazy all across the country. I'm not sure how many of you have felt -20°? It a piece of cake compared to -30°. -30° and colder just hurts.
Stay warm,
Ed